Staph infections are prevalent in hospitals, even today. Staph infections can lead to death. Healthcare professionals need to be more diligent in infection control processes in order to eliminate hospital-acquired staph infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011 March) state approximately one out of twenty patients gets an infection while receiving medical care. About 41,000 patients with central lines get a bloodstream infection each year. Of those patients, one out of four will die. In 2009, healthcare professionals were able to decrease the incidence of bloodstream infections by fifty-eight percent from 2001 with bloodstream infections from staph in Intensive Care Units was reduced by seventy-three percent more …show more content…
These germs are commonly found in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. Typically, the bacteria cause no issues or result in minor skin infections; however, if the bacteria invade one’s bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart, it can be life threatening. Staph infections are usually treated with antibiotics and drainage of the infected area but in some cases, the infections no longer respond to common antibiotics. Boils, impetigo, cellulitis, and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, are examples of skin infections caused by staphylococcus. Staph bacteria can also cause food poisoning, bacteremia, toxic shock syndrome, and septic arthritis (Mayo Clinic, 2014 June …show more content…
In hospitals it is difficult to determine where staph originated due to several reasons. The U.S. National Library of Medicine (2015 April 09) website explains how staph infections can occur in hospitals. Healthcare professionals or visitors may carry staph on their skin as normal bacteria and spread it to a patient with a weakened immune system or open wound, healthcare professionals or visitors may touch a patient with staph infection, a patient may develop a staph infection at home prior to admission and once admitted touch other people or patients might obtain it by touching an object. Due to the number of ways for this to occur, it is hard to determine origination. However, if healthcare professionals follow the CDC guidelines, incidents of hospital acquired staph infections can be reduced, if not completely prevented (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014 April 03).
The best way to prevent the spread of staph infection is thorough and frequent hand cleansing (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015 April 09). Additionally, the U.S. National Library of Medicine (2015 April 09) website states alcohol-based gels can be effective if hands are not visibly dirty and the gel contains at least sixty percent alcohol. Patients can assist in the prevention by ensuring all visitors and healthcare providers wash their hands before entering and prior to leaving their room (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015 April
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011 March) state approximately one out of twenty patients gets an infection while receiving medical care. About 41,000 patients with central lines get a bloodstream infection each year. Of those patients, one out of four will die. In 2009, healthcare professionals were able to decrease the incidence of bloodstream infections by fifty-eight percent from 2001 with bloodstream infections from staph in Intensive Care Units was reduced by seventy-three percent more …show more content…
These germs are commonly found in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. Typically, the bacteria cause no issues or result in minor skin infections; however, if the bacteria invade one’s bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart, it can be life threatening. Staph infections are usually treated with antibiotics and drainage of the infected area but in some cases, the infections no longer respond to common antibiotics. Boils, impetigo, cellulitis, and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, are examples of skin infections caused by staphylococcus. Staph bacteria can also cause food poisoning, bacteremia, toxic shock syndrome, and septic arthritis (Mayo Clinic, 2014 June …show more content…
In hospitals it is difficult to determine where staph originated due to several reasons. The U.S. National Library of Medicine (2015 April 09) website explains how staph infections can occur in hospitals. Healthcare professionals or visitors may carry staph on their skin as normal bacteria and spread it to a patient with a weakened immune system or open wound, healthcare professionals or visitors may touch a patient with staph infection, a patient may develop a staph infection at home prior to admission and once admitted touch other people or patients might obtain it by touching an object. Due to the number of ways for this to occur, it is hard to determine origination. However, if healthcare professionals follow the CDC guidelines, incidents of hospital acquired staph infections can be reduced, if not completely prevented (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014 April 03).
The best way to prevent the spread of staph infection is thorough and frequent hand cleansing (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015 April 09). Additionally, the U.S. National Library of Medicine (2015 April 09) website states alcohol-based gels can be effective if hands are not visibly dirty and the gel contains at least sixty percent alcohol. Patients can assist in the prevention by ensuring all visitors and healthcare providers wash their hands before entering and prior to leaving their room (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015 April