NOSOCOMIAL NOSOCOMIAL ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT

ORGANISMSORGANISMS

MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusVRE: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

MRSAMRSAResistant to most antibioticsFound in health care facilities– hospitals– long term care facilities

other care facilities

Not a threat to healthy people

Why should YOU be concerned about Why should YOU be concerned about MRSA?MRSA?

Difficult to contain

Easily spread

Hard to treat

Risk factors for MRSA infectionRisk factors for MRSA infection

Surgery Devices used in invasive procedures ICU or burn ward Age Treatment with multiple antibiotics Severe illness or disability Prolonged or repeated hospital stays Compromised immune system

How is MRSA spread?How is MRSA spread?Direct contact between health-care

workers and clients.– Colonized vs. infected persons

Health-care workers are the MAIN carriers.

NOT usually spread through the air

How do I detect an infection of MRSA?How do I detect an infection of MRSA?

Symptoms:– drainage from a wound– Fever and chills– increased White Blood Count

Common sites of infectionCommon sites of infection

Respiratory tractSurgical woundsPerineum or rectumSkin

How to stop the spread of MRSAHow to stop the spread of MRSA

Proper hand-washing:– Before caring for each client– After removing gloves– Before leaving the client’s room

VREVREHard to treat

Some forms of VRE pass on their drug-resistant genes!

Risk factors for VRE infectionRisk factors for VRE infection

Severe illnessTreatment with multiple antibioticsAbdominal or cardiac surgeryDevices used in invasive proceduresAgeICUProlonged or repeated hospital stays

How does a VRE infection develop?How does a VRE infection develop?

Opportunistic

Bacteria transmitted between clients and health care workers– colonized vs. infected persons

Signs of VRE infectionSigns of VRE infection

Drainage from a woundFever and chillsIncreased White Blood Count

Hand-washing prevents spread of VREHand-washing prevents spread of VRE

Wash hands before patient care

Wash hands after removing gloves

Wash hands BEFORE leaving the patient’s room.

MRSA AND VREMRSA AND VREAll health-care workers play a role in

preventing the spread of these nosocomial infections.

REMEMBER-WASH YOUR HANDS