MRSA

Question 1

How does bacteria resist antibiotics?

Answer 1

Survives, mutates, and becomes resistant

Question 2

Why does bacteria resist antibiotics?

Answer 2

Noncompliance to therapy & inappropriate use of antibiotics

Question 3

Common s/s of MRSA?

Answer 3

1. Skin infections
2. Folliculitis
3. Cellulitis
4. Impetigo
5. Furuncles
6. Carbuncles (boils)

Question 4

Life-threatening s/s of MRSA?

Answer 4

Septic shock

Question 5

What is the burden of MRSA on healthcare in the US? What is the cost, both in lives and financially?

Answer 5

1. $3-4 billion
2. 94,000 develop serious MRSA infections
3. 19,000 die each year

Question 6

What is MRSA?

Answer 6

A serious, multi-drug resistant pathogen, primarily driven by prolonged hospital stays, including time spent in ICU’s

Question 7

Who is likely to develop HA-MRSA?

Answer 7

1. Frequent/recent contact with hospitals or healthcare facilities within the previous year.
2. Recently undergone invasive medical procedure.
3. Immunocompromised.

Question 8

Who is likely to develop community acquired MRSA?

Answer 8

1. Not recently hospitalized or had a medical procedure within the last year.
2. Sports teams, child care attendees, prison inmates, diverse populations where habitation is relatively concentrated.

Question 9

Why is it difficult to eradicate MRSA?

Answer 9

1. It resists multiple drugs.

2. Bacteria find multiple ways to bypass the immune system.

Question 10

How does MRSA “outsmart” the immune system?

Answer 10

1. Creates biofilms around itself to prevent phagocytosis.
2. Escapes opsonization from immune system.
3. Releases chemotactic inhibitors to prevent WBCs to find site of infection.

Question 11

What can a person do to decrease the likelihood of contracting MRSA?

Answer 11

1. Priority is prevention and control.
2. Importance of hygiene - HANDWASHING.
3. prevent exacerbation, patient education, administration of antibiotics, proper nutrition, stress management, not sharing razors, towels, toothbrushes, education about the illness, proper disposal of PPEs.

Question 12

How does MRSA relate to antigenic shift?

Answer 12

RECOMBINATION. Occurs when 2 different strains of influenza virus infect the same cell and exchange genetic material to create a new subtype of virus to which people have little or no immunity.

Question 13

How does MRSA relate to antigenic drift?

Answer 13

MUTATIONS. In key surface antigens creates new strains. Reason why there is a new flu vaccine each year. Small changes occur continuously as virus copies itself. Changes help a virus elude immune system and necessitate the production of new vaccines each year.

Question 14

MRSA r/t antigenic drift & shift?

Answer 14

Bacteria enters immune system and prevents itself from being eradicated from a certain antibiotic or treatment.

Question 15

What are the common areas that MRSA is found in a person?

Answer 15

1. Nose (most common)
2. Armpits
3. Groin
4. Popliteal

Question 16

Where are the most common areas that MRSA is found?

Answer 16

1. Prisons
2. Hospitals
3. Colleges
4. Military settings
5. Athletic settings

Question 17

What are 2 antibiotics that work against MRSA?

Answer 17

Bactrim & Vancomycin

Question 18

• What would you ask a person who has MRSA?

Answer 18

Have you been around other people with skin conditions Have you had MRSA before? Have you had frequent infections? Are you on hemodialysis? Do you inject illegal drugs? Have you had surgery in the past year? Do you receive cancer treatments or meds that may weaken your immune system? Are you in the military? Do you have a shit ton of tattoos?

Question 19

• How do you get MRSA?

Answer 19

Noncompliance to therapy

Question 20

• How do you prevent MRSA?

Answer 20

• Gloves

- Hand hygiene

Question 21

What happens when antibiotic therapy is not completed?

Answer 21

Resurgence of microorganisms become more relatively resistant to the antibiotic

Question 22

Number one priority in preventing MRSA?

Answer 22

Prevention & Control

Question 23

What is impetigo?

Answer 23

Severely contagious skin infection common in infants and children, look like red sores on face

Question 24

What are furuncles?

Answer 24

Skin abscess (painful bump under skin that pusses)

Question 25

S/S of Septic Shock?

Answer 25

Change in body temp, chills, lightheadedness, dizziness, low BP.

Question 26

What happens if septic shock is not attended to immediately?

Answer 26

Heart or respiratory failure may occur

Question 27

How are most staph germs spread?

Answer 27

Spread by skin-to-skin contact (touching)