There was a case that I observed a fellow nurse admitting a patient with MRSA. The patient had Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus also known as MRSA to a surgical wound. Isolation precautions were used per facility protocol causing concern and questions from the patient and family. The patient did not quite understand why it was necessary that she be on isolation precautions. The nurse discussed that it is a facility policy to be placed in isolation during the course of treatment for MRSA. She was very patient and took her time explaining to both the patient and her family the importance of isolation, along with hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infection. She sat eye to eye with them, spoke clearly and allowed time for feedback. …show more content…
This is a growing concern for health care providers in all fields of patient care. Bacteria continues to become resistant to treatments. Kerry Davies Pierce that discussed the importance of preventing the spread of MRSA with the initiative to screen for MRSA at admissions for those at risk. This screening could help identify the infection before health care workers became a carrier. "The increase in MRSA infection rates, hospitals have developed prevention and control measures..." (Pierce, 2013). Hospitals screen those who have had previous infections, but not everyone at …show more content…
Although there is no quick screening tool available, it was suggested that this initiative would help to diagnose MRSA more rapidly. Research efforts are underway to develop new screening tests that would help detect MRSA in a timely fashion. In an article by Linda Nazarko regarding prevention and treatment guidance, MRSA is defined as having the potential to cause life-threatening illness. There was also a background of the condition outlined, that some people can be colonized without being sick. While others, especially older people can have an active infection due to lowered immune systems and compromising factors such as wounds (Nazarko, 2014). "MRSA is normally spread from patient to patient on the hands of nursing and medical staff", (Nazarko, p.380, 2014). Nazarko discussed the importance of using personal protective equipment in conjunction with hand washing and appropriate treatments. By using personal protective equipment and hand washing MRSA transmission declines. Also by following protocols, such as personal protective equipment and hand hygiene, MRSA is on the
In this scenario, Margaret is a newly hired medical assistant for this very busy medical practice. Margaret had good intentions with wanting to leave a good impression. However, she should have thought more about patient care and her ability to perform a procedure on her own. Fortunately, even though the office seemed to need the extra help. Margaret being a new hire and having not much time with blood draws, or the way that the office is run. Should have consulted with one of the experienced staff members of RN’s, Medical assistants and seven providers. She should have also asked about their policy and the procedures that the practice uses.
Facts of the victim’s case are laid out one by one, as if clues to a whodunit game where the culprit is ubiquitous MRSA. Descriptions are lengthy and vivid, describing everything from the patient’s painful symptoms to gruesome surgical procedures that will upset even the toughest of stomachs. This is definitely not the book to read before a large meal. The book reads like an episode of Frontline, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the end.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), MRSA is easily transmitted from person to person or from touching materials or surfaces that had previous contact with the infection. Using the implementation of infection control along with patient education will help in the decrease of the spread and help in the prevention in MRSA as well as get patients involved in their own care. The purpose of this paper is to present the problem of MRSA as well as include the rationale and history, review the proposed solution, integrate an implementation plan, summarize the literature review, establish an implementation plan, use a nursing theory to support the implementation plan, use a change theory to support the implementation plan, discuss how the project will be evaluated, and create a dissemination
...ood to above 60 degrees C and storing food below 7.2 degees C are two effective ways of controling S. aureus growth in food. The most important recent epidemiological information concerning this organism involves the increasing resistance to antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is the most common of these antibiotic resistant organisms. The effects of MSRA are the same as any other S. aureus infection, however, MSRA infections are a difficult to treat because there are few effective antibiotics available. MSRA infections are generally not life threatening, however in some extreme cases death can occur.
She should have not made the assumption that there were no doctors available until 2100 hours. Instead, she should have sought clarifications on whether the Emergency Department (ED) doctor was prevailed on examining the patient. She should’ve escalated concerns to the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM). She also should’ve not made the assumption that the administration of antibiotic would improve the patient’s condition and “recover” her from the “red zone”. Finally, she should have documented her observations and implement a care
This literature review will analyze and critically explore four studies that have been conducted on hand hygiene compliance rates by Healthcare workers (HCWs). Firstly, it will look at compliance rates for HCWs in the intensive care units (ICU) and then explore the different factors that contribute to low hand hygiene compliance. Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections appear worldwide, affecting both developed and poor countries. HAIs represent a major source of morbidity and mortality, especially for patients in the ICU (Hugonnet, Perneger, & Pittet, 2002). Hand hygiene can be defined as any method that destroys or removes microorganisms on hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). According to the World Health Organization (2002), a HAI can be defined as an infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. The hands of HCWs transmit majority of the endemic infections. As
Patient education is of paramount importance if MRSA is to be reduced to its lowest minimum. According to Noble 2009, patient’s education stands a critical component of managing MRSA therefore; nurses are expected to be prompt in educating patients on specific measures in limiting and reducing the spread of MRSA by person to person contact. (Noble, 2009) The specific measures includes definition of MRSA, mode of transmission, the damage it can do to the body, specific treatments available and the process of treatment. This is to help the patient take part in the care. Noble 2009 explains that during care giving nurses and all other healthcare provider involve in giving care to a patient should communicate to patient all the precaution that will prevent the transmission of MRSA, and also giving the scientific rationale for the use of any precaution that is been used in the cause of care giving. (Noble, 2009.)
Furthermore it’s very important not to judge the patient pertaining to what they may have to say. Good communication helps nurses build a relationship with their patient. Linking my personal experience from the clinical area relates to the practical side of nursing. It is necessary for communication between the nurse and the patient to be clear, understandable, appropriate and
...s and measurement to decrease healthcare- associated infections. American Journal Of Infection Control, pp. S19-S25. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2012.02.008.
(2014) shed light on two key components for infection control, which includes protecting patients from acquiring infections and protecting health care workers from becoming infected (Curchoe et al., 2014). The techniques that are used to protect patients also provide protection for nurses and other health care workers alike. In order to prevent the spread of infections, it is important for health care workers to be meticulous and attentive when providing care to already vulnerable patients (Curchoe et al., 2014). If a health care worker is aware they may contaminate the surroundings of a patient, they must properly clean, disinfect, and sterilize any contaminated objects in order to reduce or eliminate microorganisms (Curchoe et al., 2014). It is also ideal to change gloves after contact with contaminated secretions and before leaving a patient’s room (Curchoe, 2014). Research suggests that due to standard precaution, gloves must be worn as a single-use item for each invasive procedure, contact with sterile sites, and non-intact skin or mucous membranes (Curchoe et al., 2014). Hence, it is critical that health care workers change gloves during any activity that has been assessed as carrying a risk of exposure to body substances, secretions, excretions, and blood (Curchoe et al.,
Infection control is very important in the health care profession. Health care professionals, who do not practice proper infection control, allow themselves to become susceptible to a number of infections. Among the most dreaded of these infections are: hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Another infection which has more recently increased in prevalence is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These infections are all treated differently. Each infection has its own symptoms, classifications, and incubation periods. These infections are transmitted in very similar fashions, but they do not all target the same population.
“Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented” (“Hygiene Fast Facts”, 2013, p. 1). Hands are the number one mode of transmission of pathogens. Hands are also vital in patient interaction, and therefore should be kept clean to protect the safety of patients and the person caring for the patient. Hand hygiene is imperative to professional nursing practice because it prevents the spread of pathogens, decreases chances of hospital-acquired infections, and promotes patient safety. There is a substantial amount of evidence that shows why hand hygiene is important in healthcare
The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program is an essential force maximizing quality, patient centered care, and safety throughout the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS). The VANTHCS “... is a progressive health care provider in the heart of Texas ... we serve more than 117,000 Veterans and deliver 1.4 million outpatient episodes of care each year to Veterans in 38 Texas counties and two counties in southern Oklahoma” (“VA North Texas,” 2016, para. 1). The purpose of the IPC Program is to guide a facility-wide approach toward identifying, preventing, controlling, and eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This approach is facilitated through infection control (IC) practitioner’s role-modeling behaviors of assessing, supporting, guiding, and/or directing healthcare providers (HCPs) in the application of evidence-based practices (EBPs) to prevent HAIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs are often preventable adverse events that pose a major threat to patient safety (“Centers for Disease,” 2016). As a result, IC practitioners recognize the importance of preparing nurse faculty to engage clinical staff in the application of EBPs to prevent infections.
Avoiding infection or, at least, breaking the chain of transmission is vital in any setting, but more so in healthcare environments where infections and vulnerable hosts are moving under the same roof. What needs to be done, then?