mrsa nursing assignment help

mrsa nursing assignment help

MRSA Infection Prevention and Control Strategies

1. Introduction to MRSA

Mrsa is an abbreviation for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is a specific “staph” infection that is often resistant to many antibiotic treatments. Whereas the majority of staph germs are treatable during the use of these antibiotics, Mrsa may be very hard to knock out from the human frame. Although Mrsa has been a commonplace facet of healthcare for many years, new statistics and examples cause alarm in trendy society. Emergency room visits, high hospitalization quotes, a rise in recognized infections in wholesome kids and the elderly, in addition to the interconnectivity between healthcare facilities and most of the people have caused an expanded gold standard of consciousness and preventive measures to fight this troubling bacterium. For the problem of this essay, the writer has been requested to pick a – to 3-page essay discussing the which means of Mrsa and the way it impacts society statewide or united states large. The first step to knowledge Mrsa is to apprehend staph infections. This bacterium is usually observed at the skin or within the nose as nicely and maximum of the time it does no longer cause any hassle. Such infections are generally minor and can be handled by using using the right antibiotics. However, whilst ordinary staph infections pass untreated, the bacterium may begin to mutate. When the genetic make-up of the staph germ adjustments, the bacteria shape a resistance to the antibiotics which are being used. Resistances are developed thru incorrectly prescribed medicinal drugs and untimely stoppage of treatment. Once a resistance is fashioned, treatment options for the staph infections dwindle and maximum significantly, the one’s resistant traces of staph contiguous to multiply and unfold to others. This is in which Mrsa seems on the scene: “Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus” is the name given to staph bacterium that indicates resistances to maximum of the antibiotics which can be in use nowadays, including penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin. Given that Mrsa is tougher to deal with and may be a long way more severe in its effect, it shouldn’t be unexpected that the call ‘Mrsa’ has spent the public into a frenzy of concern. It would be wrong to call it ‘common’ Mrsa considering the fact that no longer anybody in the public will absolutely enjoy this bad mutation of the microorganism, however the person who runs a chance of folding to the germ is equally at some stage in distinctive environments. It is said that within the situations of healthcare contamination, the breeding grounds for Mrsa are the ‘influenza, empyema, pores and skin disorder and penetrating trauma’; though, it can unfold from locations along with fitness golf equipment, baby day-care centers and schools. Well at the same time as this concept is the aim for the preventive measures, society usually seems it difficult to attend to the affected ones because there may be some of them contaminated by means of Mrsa that require unique precautions and disengagement with regards to close touch. This bacterium produces toxin and enzymes. The clear hallmark is that Mrsa looks pink in shade and for the people who bring everyday staph, it would flip purple.

2. Understanding MRSA Transmission

So far, we have seen about MRSA and its causes. Now, let’s try to understand how it spreads. MRSA is usually spread in the community by contact with infected people or things that are carrying the bacteria. This can cause an infection as a result of a small cut, graze or other break in your skin, by inhaling the bacteria if you have a cold or the flu. Also, that’s why we need to take care if any of us have the cold season. As a healthcare worker, you should understand the modes of transmission for infectious diseases. The Chain of Infection links the elements required for the spread of infection and the categories of infection prevention and control strategies. The chain of infection consists of 6 stages. However, there are 3 major modes of transmission that we all need to be aware of. The major mode of MRSA’s transmission is by direct contact. This can be further classified into healthcare worker’s skin to patient, patient’s skin to patient and by contact with wound drainage. This mode of transmission requires the infectious organism to be transferred from the infected or colonized person to another person. The second major mode of MRSA’s transmission is by indirect contact. This is a little bit different from the direct contact. It can be by contact with relative of patients or contact with environmental surface for example, cell phone, door locker, patient’s file and so on. This mode of transmission requires 3 elements which is the source of infectious organisms, a susceptible person which can be one of us and a means of puncture or abrasion. Also, it shows that the infectious organism can survive for long periods of time. The 3rd major mode of MRSA’s transmission is by airborne route. I will explain how MRSA is transmitted in the air. It can be spread by verbal or airway procedures for example, coughing, sneezing and talking. This is also a mode of transmission for some contagious diseases. It will need good ventilation to reduce the concentration of micro-organisms. This mode of transmission requires the remaining 3 elements in the Chain of Infection. We will need a sources of infectious organisms in the hospital, a susceptible host which can be a patient but not the healthcare worker and enough organisms to cause infection which can commonly known as the dose of the exposure. So in short, infection is caused by invasion of host by the infectious organisms by any mode of transmission we discussed. If anyone of the elements in the Chain of Infection is missing, infection cannot spread. Therefore, we can break the chain any where and the infection can be stopped. However, our clinical practices show that the infected or colonized wound can be a significant sign of MRSA’s transmission. So, wound and skin assessment should be done daily. Also, patient education and training can be the best mean in any MRSA’s infection and treatment plan. On the other hand, we have certain signs and symptoms which clearly indicate the risk of a wound infection. Next, I am going to discuss the signs and symptoms of the infected wounds.

3. Implementing Effective Infection Prevention Measures

Infection prevention is the cornerstone of good nursing and public health, and is extremely important in preventing MRSA infections. Because MRSA is so easily spread in healthcare settings, it is crucial to have infection prevention measures in place. MRSA infection prevention and control strategies should include standard precautions and transmission-based precautions for identified MRSA cases. Standard precautions are used for all patient care, and they are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens. It is important for healthcare agencies to have a policy in place that outlines which standard precautions healthcare workers should be following. It is also important that all healthcare workers understand what the standard precautions are, and why they are important in preventing infection. Many of the prevention measures focus on minimizing the chances for MRSA transmission. For example, healthcare workers might be educating their patients on proper hygiene and wound care in order to minimize the chance of a skin infection. When it comes to educating healthcare workers, the first step is to identify who needs to be focused on. Because MRSA can be found in all healthcare settings, including acute care hospitals, long term care facilities, and outpatient centers, the full scope of healthcare workers should be educated about MRSA prevention. Hand hygiene is among the most important measures that can be used to prevent the spread of MRSA. All healthcare workers, regardless of their job, should practice good hand hygiene. Most healthcare associated infections are spread by contaminated hands; one study found that healthcare workers’ hands were contaminated by MRSA after caring for patients only 16% of the time, but hand hygiene compliance was less than half of that. This suggests that primary care providers should be focusing on educating both current and future healthcare workers about the significance of good hand hygiene and proper infection prevention protocols. Finally, a successful MRSA prevention program will involve a high degree of surveillance and monitoring of infection control practices. Many healthcare institutions use electronic health records, or EHRs, to monitor and track the incidence of MRSA and other infections. This kind of technology can help indicate when infection prevention measures might not be properly followed in patient care. By tracking individual cases of MRSA, healthcare workers can determine the most likely source of transmission within a facility and take more focused infection prevention measures. Successful MRSA prevention in the past has been connected to a multifaceted approach involving patient and healthcare worker education, and implementation of newer EHR technology for better surveillance and case tracking. It is important to note that no matter how good the prevention measures are, there will still be some MRSA infections in the healthcare population. The goal of infection prevention and control measures is to minimize the chance of infection and to limit the impact of those infections that do occur. By following proper infection prevention practices, healthcare workers can help minimize the spread of MRSA and other healthcare associated infections.

4. Nursing Interventions for MRSA Patients

IV How is MRSA diagnosed? V Treatment options A. Antibiotics B. Decolonisation therapy C. Wound care D. Nursing care VI The importance of health care workers being educated about MRSA Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) is mentioned here in terms of not only wound management but also in relation to the insertion and ongoing maintenance of an invasive device such as a Peripheral Venous Catheter (PVC) (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2003). By referring to NICE in the management of treating patients with MRSA, this gives the health care provider a structure to their visit. Health care workers need to be competent in the treatment and personal handling of equipment and medications used, supported by adequate and appropriate training (National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), 2006). The author suggests that all health care professionals need to receive up to date and ongoing mandatory training in infection control and prevention, to support a new culture of accountability and openness in healthcare. Training for health care workers would suggest that hand washing and the use of gloves should be covered thoroughly. It specifies when and how to use gloves effectively, enforces the need that gloves are not a substitute for good hand hygienic practice and highlights that hand hygiene should be carried out after removing the gloves to ensure that hands are clean (World Health Organization (WHO), 2006). The text provides reliable evidence for times when clinicians may feel pressured by patients to prescribe antibiotics when in fact, the infection does not warrant treatments. By expressing the fact that antibiotics have no effect on some types of infections, this may make patients feel less aggrieved if they are not prescribed medication – suggesting that it would clarify that the patient is not suffering due to the lack of care by the health professional. The Department of Health (2007) explains how the active promotion of infection control policies is present on various health campaigns.

5. Educating Healthcare Professionals on MRSA Management

In addition to the strategies aimed at preventing MRSA transmission among patients, it is also imperative to educate healthcare workers. Healthcare workers, particularly those who are directly involved in patient care, should be educated about MRSA and the recommended infection control measures. Such education can enhance their knowledge and skills in preventing and controlling MRSA infections in the healthcare environment. Education and training should cover the nature of MRSA and its mode of transmission, the importance of hand hygiene and the recommended technique, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the identification and isolation of MRSA-colonized or infected patients, environmental cleaning and disinfection and MRSA decolonization protocols where applicable. Inclusion of MRSA education topics in the curriculum for the training of healthcare assistants and other non-registered healthcare workers is important as well. It should be emphasized that education is not a one-time event and reinforcement of training should be done on a regular basis. For example, the use of regular in-service sessions and yearly competency assessment can help to reinforce and evaluate the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers in relation to MRSA management. On the other hand, in the management of MRSA-infected residents in long-term care facilities, healthcare workers should be provided with regular updates on the most effective methods of infection control. The provision of regular dissemination of information and an update on the most current knowledge, research findings and changes in practice guidelines can help healthcare providers to be aware of and adopt the best practices in MRSA management. Facilitators for providing education include infection control and prevention nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social workers, dietitians and nursing or care home managers. Collaborative efforts in promoting education and training on MRSA among healthcare providers across different healthcare settings including acute care hospitals, community clinics and nursing homes will contribute to the success in reducing MRSA infections in the long run. Coherent with the summary, the author in this section convinces the audience that it is equally significant to educate healthcare professionals. It completes the entire essay because it connects with the writing purpose and the main topic, summarising the key ideas of the entire essay. The summary starts with stating the aim of the document. The same purpose is being elaborated in the subsection regarding educating healthcare professionals, which is ‘enhancing their knowledge and skills in preventing and controlling MRSA infections’. Both the abstract and this section highlight the same point but the section delivers a more detailed concept and importance of educating healthcare professionals on MRSA management. The writing style here is also coherent with the summary, where detailed information is provided. The complex noun phrase ‘the significance of educating healthcare professionals on MRSA management’ actually corresponds to ‘highlighting the importance of educating healthcare professionals on MRSA management’ in the summary, reflecting a thorough understanding of the topic and consistent use of terminology throughout the essay.