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Infectious Disease Paper
Brandie Evans
University of Phoenix
June 11, 2013
Sherrie Sheets
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Infectious Disease
Introduction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is produced by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics generally used to treat normal staph infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first discovered in 1961. Today In present time
MRSA has turned out to be a dangerous health problem,
Bacteria are always altering because of genetic reasons and the continustened change. Therefore, because of the change numerous bacteria begin to increase the resistant to a specific antibiotic. As soon as the less resistant and weaker bacteria come into contect with that identical antibiotic, and so they stop living.
However, the resistant and more stronger bacteria remain before they disappear. If these more tougher and stronger bacteria happen to live then they can duplicate. The newly Once more the dublicated bacteria hold the same to the antibiotic and extra variations diffrenceces in their genetic influence refer that a large number of these off-spring bacteria will be even morestronger and tougher. As time goes on, the frequently change of bacteria genetics and the population favoring of one form of a medication over another has indicated to the more thougher and stronger types of Staphylococcus aurous.

But normally these though forms are only stronger of one or two antibiotics; nevertheless, MRSA is frequently indicated to as the “superbug” because it can be thouhger to even more antibiotics. ("What Is Mrsa? Why Is
Mrsa A Concern? How Is Mrsa Treated?” 2012).
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Infectious Disease
Introduction
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first discovered in 1961. Today
MRSA has become a serious health issue because of three reasons: the common prescribing and the use of antibiotics, natural genetic factors and also because people do not like antibiotics in the form of tablets. Bacteria are constantly changing since their genetic factors are incessantly shifting. As a result of this several of the bacteria start to become resistant to a particular antibiotic. Once the less resistant weaker bacteria are met with that same antibiotic, they die.
However, the stronger and more resilient bacteria linger before dying. If these more resilient bacteria happen to survive then they can reproduce. The newly reproduced bacteria carry the same resistance to the antibiotic and additional variations in their genetic factors suggest that many of these off-spring bacteria will be even more resilient. As time has passed, the simple pattern of continually changing bacteria genetics and people’s preference of one form of a medication over another has led to the more resistant forms of Staphylococcus aurous. Typically these resistant forms are only resistant of one or two antibiotics; however, MRSA is often referred to as the “superbug” because it can be resistant to even more. ("What Is Mrsa? Why Is
Mrsa A Concern? How Is Mrsa Treated?” 2012).

The inflammatory response
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes the person body’s inflammatory system to let toxins out which in turn causes dangerous health illness called Septic shock. When Once Septic shock is the inflammatory response of a MRSA infection, it can cause damage to organs like the kidney, liver, intestines, and even the brain. Sings of septic shock are based of altering the body temperatures, low blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, and chills. An individual with this illness may also have the pale look of extremities, hands and feet may stay cold
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due to the blood flow that has been chaninged to flow toward the inside of the organs and away from the extremities to make an attempt to stop further injury. In the end septic shock can bring on respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and even death. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
CDC (May 29, 2013), MRSA Infection Topics)
Description of the disease
“Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. and 25%-30% of us have staph bacteria in our noses.” (Understanding MRSA Infection -- the Basics).
Nevertheless, if staph manages to find a way to infect the body, generally through a cut or abrasion, it can problematic because once inside it can create infections. Typically the infections are slight and rarely require any type of treatment. However, there has been an instance where staph has caused severe health issues in people with weaker immune systems and caused infections in wounds or pneumonia.
How the disease is transmitted MRSA is spread by contact; and so, MRSA can be spread simply by
Having contact with another people that may have MRSA on their skin, or by toughing substances that might have bacteria on them. My understanding to “What Is Mrsa? Why Is Mrsa A Concern? How Is
Mrsa Treated?"( 2012)“Sixty percent of doctor's clothing and 65% of nurses' uniforms were found to have unsafe bacteria, including MRSA, researchers from the Association for Professionals in
Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) reported in September 2011.” Everyday variations of staph are general widespread bacteria that can reside within the body. Many healthy people have staph without ever becoming infected,” according to "Webmd" (2013).
Ecological issues that may make someone vulnerable to the disease
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It is common to see MRSA infections within hospital settings and nursing homes because people who have weak immune systems are at greater risk. Many patients will develop infections in areas near surgical incisions or near devices such as catheters. According to "Webmd" (2013),
“Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world.
In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes more than 60% of staph infections.” (Understanding MRSA
Infection -- the Basics
).
Identify standard and alternative treatments
Treatment for staph typically calls for a prescription of antibiotics. However, over many years the different types of staph, including MRSA, have developed into a kind of “superbug” that has become unaffected by the antibiotics that at one time had killed it. Medications including amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and methicillin are ineffective when treating MRSA because it is always evolving into new and different strains. Since MRSA is always evolving, it makes it difficult for researchers to find new medications to stop it.
When a person is believed to be infected with MRSA, a blood sample is usually taken, and a nurse will do a swab around the area that is. When the results of these tests are back, which can take many days, the patient is then handled accordingly. When a healthy person has a positive MRSA test result then they are usually given an order for an antibiotic cream called mupirocin. When this medication is spread over the affected areas, it greatly lowers the likelihood of another person catching MRSA. When an individual who has a weakened immune system has a positive MRSA infection, the treatment is usually requires the person to be admitted to the hospital and intravenous medications called vancomycin or teicoplanin is started. Currently there are only a few types of MRSA which are resilient to either of these antibiotics. If a person has an infected abscess or boils and goes to the
ER, the typical treatment for these MRSA infections calls for a physician to lance the abscess,
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then flushing out the infectious discharge and then packing the abscess with sterile gauze, sometimes a prescription for an antibiotic is given. It is not recommended that a person try to lance and drain an infected abscess themselves because by doing this a person might cause infections to become worse and the potential to transmit MRSA to others is very high. Any lancing, draining, or popping is not advised and if a person thinks they possibly have an infection, it is always advised to cover the affected area, always you’re your hands after, and then see a physician as soon as possible. Repeat MRSA infections are common, and even if a person has had a MRSA infection and recovered, a person never develops immunity from future MRSA infections and personal prevention is the best way to avoid infection.
Methods to control the spread of the disease & consequences of not controlling it
A patient with MRSA is treated by using "barrier nursing" techniques. With this style of nursing technique a patient will be quarantined in a separate area treated by physicians and nurses that will always be wearing disposable gloves and aprons. In order to avoid other patients from getting infected with MRSA, these gloves and aprons are disposed of and hands must be washed before they treat any other patient. Chemical cleaning products that kill germs and stop them from continuing to thrive. Disinfectants are regulated and controlled by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). It is best to utilize a disinfectant only after cleaning any surfaces that may contain any detectable blood, bodily fluid or drainage from infections
Community health promotion and wellness strategies to help prevent the disease
The MRSA Toolkit for Childcare Programs and elementary schools is a toolkit that has been developed to aide in prevention and elimination or to decrease the numbers of people being infected with Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections within elementary schools and childcare programs. This kit has educational resources for workers
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within childcare facilities, parents and children that part of these programs. 1. These kits each have the following: Infection Control Checklist 2. Guidance for School Nurses 3. Quick
Reference for Environmental Cleaning 4. MEDSCAPE Article - Q & A MRSA
5. Hand washing
Poster 6.Evaluation of Toolkit. These kits serve as educational tools that help children and faculty learn ways they can contribute to the decreasing of the spread of MRSA and it also helps them to learn how to protect themselves from coming into contact the infectious disease.
TPCHD.org. (2012, March). Health Department-Healthy People in Healthy Communities.
(Retrieved from http://TPCHD.org/health-wellness-1/MRSA)
C
onclusion
We have discussed the infectious disease MRSA and how it came to be, the inflammatory response to MRSA, how it is spread, the environmental factors that may make someone vulnerable to the disease, standard and alternative treatments. We also looked at the methods used to control the spreading of the disease and consequences of not controlling it, as well as a tool within my community that assists in educating health promotion and wellness strategies to help prevent the disease. Prevention and health wellness begins with each person knowing how to keep themselves from becoming susceptible to MRSA and how to spot the signs and symptoms to avoid being in contact with a person who may be infected. We have learned that knowledge is power.
It is in our best interest to become informed on MRSA and its dangers.
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References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Last updated May 29, 2013).
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/
Holdaway, P., & Mulvihill, M. (2010). Human diseases: A systemic approach
(7th r Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
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TPCHD.org. (2012, March). Health Department-Healthy People in Healthy
Communities.
Retrieved from http://TPCHD.org/health-wellness-1/MRSA
WebMD. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and- treatments/understanding-mrsa-methicillin-resistant-staphylococcus-aureus What is MRSA? Why is MRSA a Concern? How is MRSA Treated?. (2012).
Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10634.php
Zelman, M., Tompary, E., Raymond, J.,