TREATING MRSA PATIENTS
Introduction
MRSA is an acronym for meticilin- resistant staphylococcus aereus and can sometimes be referred to as a super bug. The staphylococcus aereus bacteria can be subdivided into various strains. The MRSA strains are also very similar to other strains of the staphylococcus aereus. People can act as either carriers or may in some cases develop complications which are caused by the bacteria. Most of the infections brought about by the bacteria can be treated by some common antibiotics which are available in the market. The MRSA infections show some resistance to the meticilin antibiotics. They also show some resistance to other antibiotics. This means that the infections cannot be completely eliminated by the use of such antibiotics. MRSA is one of the main causes of blood stream infections. The infections caused by the MRSA are very difficult to treat since many antibiotics do not work against them. If the cause of the MRSA is not diagnosed in time, then the effect of such antibiotics can be very severe and difficult to manage. MRSA usually occur to people who have been frequenting the hospitals for some time. There are some wards in the hospitals that have higher rates of MRSA than other. Cases of MRSA are most common in the intensive care units. I undertook this study so as to find a way of reducing the cases of MRSA and at the same time detect such cases so that they are managed before they develop into more serious complications. Many people have the belief that MRSA is not controllable but research has shown that if it is discovered early, it can be easily managed. MRSA can affect people in two different ways. A person can either become a carrier or can sometimes be directly affected by the complication. When a person is a carrier, the condition can also be referred to as colonization. In such a case the MRSA will grow in a person’s body without any sign or symptoms of an infection. There has been rising cases of MRSA in hospitals thus attracting attention from different sectors in the medical industry so as to come up with a remedy and ensure that the problem is properly managed.
Some of the most common places that harbor the MRSA bacteria without causing any symptom include, the armpits, nostrils and the skin. In such cases the MRSA can later develop into more serious complications or can be spread to other people. It is always advisable that if a person is having MRSA, he/she should seek medical attention as soon as possible and should also inform the hospital authorities about this type of complication so that they can prevent it from spreading to other patients. If the treatment is administered in time it will prevent further spread of the disease. I chose to work on this topic so as to carry out an insight analysis on the effects of MRSA and how it affects the population and the measures that can be taken in order to control it.
This topic is very important as it helps different nursing professional to find a way of controlling the MRSA and the complications that may come with it. MRSA has been a common infection that has posed as one of the major challenges in the hospitals today. If a solution is not found that can be used to control the infection, then it can become a major threat to the overall population. Once a MRSA patient has been treated, it is good practice to have all the equipments used sterilized and properly cleaned so that it can be easily controlled. This helps in managing the spread of the infections that are related to the disease. The infections caused by the MRSA are often associated with high fevers and are common on the skin and on some other soft tissues. When handling such cases, a nurse should ensure that he/she takes the utmost care so as to provide the patient with gentle care to avoid further damage to the tissues. Care should also be taken so as to prevent the infection from spreading to other tissues or even affecting the person handling the patient. Since MRSA is usually got from hospitals, the nurses should work out tirelessly so as to preserve the image of the hospital by completely eradicating the infection from their premises. MRSA can be prevented using the following methods:
i. Regular washing of hands when entering or leaving a hospital
ii. Ensure that any cut is properly covered
iii. Using gloves whenever handling any patient
iv. Avoid sharing of personal clothes and items like towels and face cloths
The MRSA can be treated in the following ways:
They are commonly treated using antibiotics since it is a bacterial infection. However, boils which are caused by the MRSA can simply be drained and no antibiotic may be needed to treat it. The antibiotics which work for the cases related to the MRSA are limited since they are always resistant to the antibiotics. The antibiotics are given directly under the vein and the course can continue for several weeks.
If all the staff in the hospital adheres to good hygiene measure, then the number of MRSA cases can be kept very low. The most important measure that can be used for managing the infection is through washing your hands before contacting any patient. Regular cleaning of bedding also help in controlling the infection.
This topic is very important both to the patient suffering from MRSA and his/her family at large. It not only helps in finding ways of managing the infection but also help in controlling and preventing further spread of the infection. Most of the proposed methods for managing the infection can also help in controlling other infections other than the MRSA. The effects of MRSA can be very severe and this topic plays a very important role in informing the society on the effects of MRSA so that they can take caution and prevent the infections. This topic helps in informing people about the causes of such infections and how a person can get it. If a person is properly informed on the measures of managing this infection, then such cases can be properly reduced. The adult and their family will know on how to take care of the patient while still under medication and know how they can protect themselves from suffering from the same kinds of infection. In such a case, people become more informed and it works towards the ultimate goal of having an MRSA free society.
If a person is suffering from MRSA, he/she should seek medical attention as soon as possible. While the person is going to seek for treatment, he/she should also inform the nurses about such a condition so that proper measures can be taken to prevent further spread of the infection. Hygiene should be observed and no any equipment used by the patient should be shared by another patient before properly being sterilized. This will also help in managing other infections that may also be spread through the use of unclean equipment. There should be two people from different professions who can also help the practical nurse in managing the infections. The two interprofessional team members will help to manage the hygiene standards and also help in the proper administering of the medication. A surgeon may be required in addition to the practical nurse.
In order to properly manage a person suffering from this kind of infection, a person needs to have proper education on hygiene and how to manage skin infections and infections on other soft tissues. A person should also be as courteous as possible so that he/she can easily interact with the patient’s family during the process of administering the medication. A person should also exercise lots of patience while dealing with such patients. The medication may take a longer period of time without the patient responding to the medication. The nurse therefore needs to be very patient with the patient so that the results of the medication can be realized.
Conclusion
MRSA is an infection that if not properly managed can deprive a country a lot of resources and a huge labor force. It is one of the infections that is very easy to manage but can in some cases prove to be a menace. The caregivers should ensure that they observe the best nursing practices while handling patients who are suffering from this kind of ailment. It is very easy to prevent this just by taking into consideration adequate measures of observing hygiene to prevent it from spreading and also for managing. It is easier to prevent the infection than curing it since it has resistance to a variety of antibiotics.
References
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