Mrsa and Patient safety
MRSA
The patient safety problem of interest to me that I have chosen to talk about is MRSA.
“MRSA” stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Staphylococcus Aureus or “Staph Aureus” for short. ( SARI, 2007). MRSA is transferred from person to person through a bacteria (germs). Many people carry this germ. It is estimated that one in three people are carriers of this germ (CDC Gov 2013) but it is not always harmful - these people would have it on their skin or in their nose, but it is not considered dangerous until it enters the blood stream through a cut etc. This bacteria has become resistant to penicillin-based antibiotics. Resistance was first discovered in 1961. The reason it became resistant was because it built up an immunity to a penicillin-binding protein coded by a mobile genetic element termed the “methicillin-resistant” gene (mecA).(St James’s information leaflet.2006)
Many people today are walking around unaware they are carriers of this germ. The symptoms of MRSA are usually just mistaken for a spider bite or infected cut. The site may be swollen, a large red bump raised from the skin, warm to touch, painful, sore, full of puss or the patient may also have a fever. (CDC Gov, 2013). It is only confirmed by a swab test which is usually done by a health professional. If you are worried that you have MRSA or have any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately to get a test and obtain information to start treating it.
The full screen for MRSA is done in hospitals by health professionals. The test can be done by taking swabs from any of the following: nasal, throat, groin, axilla, or any breaks in the skin (including ventricular assist device or drain exit sites or catheter urine). A urethral swab can also be taken as part of the full screening. These swabs are then sent for testing and the patient will be told as soon as possible if they have MRSA. (Royal Marsden, p4, 2010).
The patients most at risk are patients in
The patient safety problem of interest to me that I have chosen to talk about is MRSA.
“MRSA” stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Staphylococcus Aureus or “Staph Aureus” for short. ( SARI, 2007). MRSA is transferred from person to person through a bacteria (germs). Many people carry this germ. It is estimated that one in three people are carriers of this germ (CDC Gov 2013) but it is not always harmful - these people would have it on their skin or in their nose, but it is not considered dangerous until it enters the blood stream through a cut etc. This bacteria has become resistant to penicillin-based antibiotics. Resistance was first discovered in 1961. The reason it became resistant was because it built up an immunity to a penicillin-binding protein coded by a mobile genetic element termed the “methicillin-resistant” gene (mecA).(St James’s information leaflet.2006)
Many people today are walking around unaware they are carriers of this germ. The symptoms of MRSA are usually just mistaken for a spider bite or infected cut. The site may be swollen, a large red bump raised from the skin, warm to touch, painful, sore, full of puss or the patient may also have a fever. (CDC Gov, 2013). It is only confirmed by a swab test which is usually done by a health professional. If you are worried that you have MRSA or have any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately to get a test and obtain information to start treating it.
The full screen for MRSA is done in hospitals by health professionals. The test can be done by taking swabs from any of the following: nasal, throat, groin, axilla, or any breaks in the skin (including ventricular assist device or drain exit sites or catheter urine). A urethral swab can also be taken as part of the full screening. These swabs are then sent for testing and the patient will be told as soon as possible if they have MRSA. (Royal Marsden, p4, 2010).
The patients most at risk are patients in