Mrsa
MRSA
By definition methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus is a strain of bacteria that is normally found on the skin or in the nasal passage way of about one third of the population. MRSA is the staphylococcus aureus bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics.
MRSA needs a portal of entry in order to be infectious. This portal can be a sore, cut, breathing tube, or catheter. MRSA can present itself as looking like a pimple and that can be drained and taken care of. It is normally not as infectious if the person is healthy.
Patients in a hospital care setting are highly susceptible for MRSA. The reason being is when a patient enters the hospital they have low immune systems, or open wounds. Also, certain equipment may be used that allows foreign objects to be entered into the body which could be contaminated. The staff has to be highly aware of keeping all supplies sterile and making sure sterile technique procedures are being followed. By following these procedures the risk of contracting MRSA is greatly diminished.
MRSA treatment requires finding an antibiotic that it is not resistant to. This requires a lot of trial and error. Also fluids need to be injected through an IV to keep the patient hydrated. If MRSA has spread quickly and was not treated early enough some patients may go into kidney failure and need dialysis.
The cost for MRSA treatment ranges. If caught early enough in a healthy patient a simple doctor office call and a prescription can be all that is needed. If the infection has spread and the person is septic or going into organ failure the cost could be phenomenal.
If a patient is in the hospital setting with MRSA several precautions need to be taken. The patient will need to be put into isolation to protect further contamination of other patients. When healthcare workers come in contact with the patient they need to make sure that they
By definition methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus is a strain of bacteria that is normally found on the skin or in the nasal passage way of about one third of the population. MRSA is the staphylococcus aureus bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics.
MRSA needs a portal of entry in order to be infectious. This portal can be a sore, cut, breathing tube, or catheter. MRSA can present itself as looking like a pimple and that can be drained and taken care of. It is normally not as infectious if the person is healthy.
Patients in a hospital care setting are highly susceptible for MRSA. The reason being is when a patient enters the hospital they have low immune systems, or open wounds. Also, certain equipment may be used that allows foreign objects to be entered into the body which could be contaminated. The staff has to be highly aware of keeping all supplies sterile and making sure sterile technique procedures are being followed. By following these procedures the risk of contracting MRSA is greatly diminished.
MRSA treatment requires finding an antibiotic that it is not resistant to. This requires a lot of trial and error. Also fluids need to be injected through an IV to keep the patient hydrated. If MRSA has spread quickly and was not treated early enough some patients may go into kidney failure and need dialysis.
The cost for MRSA treatment ranges. If caught early enough in a healthy patient a simple doctor office call and a prescription can be all that is needed. If the infection has spread and the person is septic or going into organ failure the cost could be phenomenal.
If a patient is in the hospital setting with MRSA several precautions need to be taken. The patient will need to be put into isolation to protect further contamination of other patients. When healthcare workers come in contact with the patient they need to make sure that they
Bibliography: Dugdale, David C. "MRSA - PubMed Health." MRSA. 30 May 2009. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004520/>. Humphreys, Hilary. "MRSA Current Perspectives." Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 53.3 (2004): 552. Print. "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 22 Apr. 2011. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methicillin-resistant_Staphylococcus_aureus>.