Scientists have proclaimed that antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Do your nursing assistants understand the seriousness of drug unyielding bacteria? Here is some basic information you can share with the Cnas at your workplace. The more they learn, the more they can assist in the spread of dangerous "Super Bugs".
It's a Bug's World!
Thousands of distinct diseases can sway human beings. Some diseases-such as cancer and diabetes-develop on their own. Others-such as sickle cell anemia-are inherited by children from their parents. And, still others-such as pneumonia and tuberculosis infections-are caused by tiny living organisms called bacteria.
In the early 1900's, infectious disease was the main cause of death in America. Then, in 1928, penicillin was discovered. By 1941, penicillin was used successfully as an antibiotic. Doctors were thrilled to have a drug that killed bacteria.
As more and more antibiotics were created, doctors hoped that they could totally wipe out diseases-like small pox, meningitis and typhoid-by production bacteria extinct! For a while, their plan seemed to be working. But now it's clear that the bacteria are fighting back.
Bacteria have been on this earth for 3.5 billion years! And they have spent that time learning how to survive-no matter what. Even though they have been attacked by antibiotic drugs for 60 years, bacteria have not given up. Instead, they have come to be resistant to the antibiotics. This means that many of our most marvelous drugs no longer work. They are powerless against the bacteria they were supposed to destroy!
Drug-resistant bacteria are not new. The man who discovered penicillin, Sir Alexander Fleming, warned of the dangers of drug resistance in 1929. But scientists had faith that they could design newer and more marvelous antibiotics, so they ignored the warnings. Now, scientists are starting to wonder just who is smarter...people or bacteria?
By learning more about drug-resistant bacteria-including Mrsa, Vre, Tb, Salmonella and E. Coli, you'll understand the point of allowable infection control procedures. And, you'll be able to help safe yourself and your clients from dangerous infectious diseases.
How Do Bugs come to be Drug Resistant?
Have you ever heard the expressions "survival of the fittest" or "the strong will survive"? Well, both statements are true about bacteria. Bacteria know how to survive-even when they are attacked by strong antibiotics.
Antibiotics work by killing adequate bacteria to control a person's infection. And, it's the weak germs that get wiped out first. Because no antibiotic can destroy every harmful germ in someone's body, there are all the time some bacteria left. (This is especially true if the someone stops taking the antibiotic before the prescribe is finished.) And, it's the strongest germs that survive!
There are a number of ways that the "leftover" bacteria can come to be unyielding to an antibiotic:
- They learn how to furnish an enzyme that stops the drug from working.
- The bacteria "mutate", changing their outside structure. This allows them to hide from the antibiotic-since the antibiotic doesn't recognize them anymore.
- By changing on the inside, the bacteria find a new way to furnish their harmful toxins.
Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. Bacteria that have come to be drug-resistant can share this information with other bacteria-teaching them how to fight the drugs, too. This means that germs can learn how to fight an antibiotic before they are exposed to it!
But, wait...there's more. Bacteria can outline out how to fight any distinct antibiotics after being exposed to only one. This means that a germ can come to be unyielding to every antibiotic we have-by being exposed to only a few! This process can be a quick one. For example, it only took three years for the first bacteria to come to be unyielding to penicillin.
Taking an antibiotic when it's not surely considerable makes the problem worse because the drug kills lots of amiable bacteria instead of harmful germs. Without these amiable bacteria, a person's body is at risk of being "taken over" by bad bacteria.
Understanding Mrsa
Mrsa stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. You may hear it called "staph" for short. Normally, staph bacteria are mild "passengers" on the skin, but when they turn toxic, they cause minor illnesses (like pimples or boils) or serious illnesses (like pneumonia or toxic shock syndrome). Mrsa bacteria have come to be unyielding to antibiotics in the penicillin family.
Three Things to Remember About Mrsa:
- Half of all people carry staph colse to on their bodies-without getting sick from it. But, if you have staph on your skin and the bacteria "jump" onto your clients, they might get very sick.
- Clients who are infected with Mrsa usually need to be in a room of their own.
- When working with a client who has Mrsa, you should wash your hands and put on gloves before entering the client's room.
Understanding Vre
Vre stands for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. The enterococci bacteria usually live in the bowels. However, they can also live on the skin and in the environment for days--or even weeks. They have come to be unyielding to Vancomycin, the strongest antiobiotic available. Vre is spread by unwashed hands or from gloves that are dirty from touching a client or a contaminated environment.
Three Things to Remember About Vre:
- Healthy people are not at risk for getting Vre, but they can carry it to others.
- Be sure to wear gloves when dealing with a client's body excretions. Wash your hands before and after wearing the gloves.
- Vre have not been shown to tour through the air. So, wearing a mask when working with a client who has Vre is not necessary.
Understanding Multi-Drug unyielding Tb
Tuberculosis is a bacteria that usually infects a person's lungs. Anti-tuberculosis drugs need to be taken every day for six months. Because so many people with Tb stopped taking their medication before the six months were up, we now face a real problem with drug-resistant tuberculosis. This dangerous strain of Tb bacteria is coarse in places where people are confined and overcrowded. It is also a big risk for people with weakened immune systems, such as people with Hiv or Aids.
Three Things to Remember About Tb:
- If you work with Tb clients, you must be fitted for a extra mask. And you must use the mask properly-to safe yourself and your other clients.
- If you are asked to watch your client swallow anti-Tb pills, be sure you know what to watch for and what to document.
- Be sure to narrative if your client has symptoms of Tb, including: fever, night sweats and a hacking cough-which often produces mucus and/or blood.
Understanding Salmonella & E. Coli
Salmonella and E. Coli are two of the most coarse bacteria that live in and on animals. These bacteria can be passed on to people who eat meat or poultry. Salmonella live in the ovaries of most chickens, so people are most at risk when they eat raw or undercooked eggs. The E. Coli germs live in the intestines of most animals (and humans). It shows up most often in raw milk and undercooked beef. Both germs can cause serious cases of food poisoning--and may even be fatal.
Three Things to Remember About Salmonella & E. Coli:
- To avoid food poisoning, all the time wash your hands before handling food...and after handling raw meat.
- Always clean any outside that has touched raw meat with soap and hot water.
- Report any symptoms of food poisoning: nausea and cramps (usually within 12 to 48 hours after eating the bad food), diarrhea, fever and vomiting.
Remember...
The single most important thing you can do to help control the spread of drug-resistant bacteria is to wash your hands! For your own safety, effect your workplace procedure for handwashing. The safety of your clients, your coworkers and your family depends on it, too!
"Now YOU Can Create Professional 3D Animations, Games And Graphic Models Like Pixar and Dreamworks In 2 Hours or Less..."
0 comments:
Post a Comment