1. Nosocomial Antibiotic Resistant Organisms

3. MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Resistant to most antibiotics
Found in health care facilities
hospitals
long term care facilities
other care facilities
Not a threat to healthy people

4. Why should YOU be concerned about MRSA?
Difficult to contain
Easily spread
Hard to treat

5. Risk 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

6. 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

7. How do I detect an infection of MRSA?
Symptoms:
drainage from a wound
Fever and chills
increased White Blood Count

8. Common sites of infection
Respiratory tract
Surgical wounds
Perineum or rectum
Skin

9. How to stop the spread of MRSA?
Proper hand-washing:
Before caring for each client
After removing gloves
Before leaving the client’s room

10. VRE: Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
Hard to treat
Some forms of VRE pass on their drug-resistant genes

11. Risk factors for VRE infection
Severe illness
Treatment with multiple antibiotics
Abdominal or cardiac surgery
Devices used in invasive procedures
Age
ICU
Prolonged or repeated hospital stays

12. How does a VRE infection develop?
Opportunistic
Bacteria transmitted between clients and health care workers
colonized vs. infected persons

13. Signs of VRE infection Drainage from a wound Fever and chills
Increased White Blood Count

14. Hand-washing prevents spread of VRE
Wash hands before patient care
Wash hands after removing gloves
Wash hands BEFORE leaving the patient’s room

15. MRSA AND VRE
All health-care workers play a role in preventing the spread of these nosocomial infections
REMEMBER-WASH YOUR HANDS