| Scientists have proclaimed that antibiotic resistance is | | | | Understanding MRSA |
| one of the world's most pressing public health | | | | MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus |
| problems. Do your nursing assistants understand the | | | | Aureus. You may hear it called "staph" for short. |
| seriousness of drug resistant bacteria? Here is some | | | | Normally, staph bacteria are harmless "passengers" on |
| basic information you can share with the CNAs at | | | | the skin, but when they turn toxic, they cause minor |
| your workplace. The more they learn, the more they | | | | illnesses (like pimples or boils) or serious illnesses (like |
| can assist in the spread of dangerous "Super Bugs". | | | | pneumonia or toxic shock syndrome). MRSA bacteria |
| It's a Bug's World! | | | | have become resistant to antibiotics in the penicillin |
| Thousands of different diseases can affect human | | | | family. |
| beings. Some diseases-such as cancer and | | | | Three Things to Remember About MRSA: |
| diabetes-develop on their own. Others-such as sickle | | | | |
| cell anemia-are inherited by children from their | | | | 1. Half of all people carry staph around on their |
| parents. And, still others-such as pneumonia and | | | | bodies-without getting sick from it. But, if you have |
| tuberculosis infections-are caused by tiny living | | | | staph on your skin and the bacteria "jump" onto your |
| organisms called bacteria. | | | | clients, they might get very sick. |
| In the early 1900's, infectious disease was the main | | | | 2. Clients who are infected with MRSA usually need |
| cause of death in America. Then, in 1928, penicillin | | | | to be in a room of their own. |
| was discovered. By 1941, penicillin was used | | | | 3. When working with a client who has MRSA, you |
| successfully as an antibiotic. Doctors were thrilled to | | | | should wash your hands and put on gloves before |
| have a drug that killed bacteria. | | | | entering the client's room. |
| As more and more antibiotics were created, doctors | | | | Understanding VRE |
| hoped that they could totally wipe out diseases-like | | | | VRE stands for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. |
| small pox, meningitis and typhoid-by making bacteria | | | | The enterococci bacteria normally live in the bowels. |
| extinct! For a while, their plan seemed to be working. | | | | However, they can also live on the skin and in the |
| But now it's clear that the bacteria are fighting back. | | | | environment for days--or even weeks. They have |
| Bacteria have been on this earth for 3.5 billion years! | | | | become resistant to Vancomycin, the strongest |
| And they have spent that time learning how to | | | | antiobiotic available. VRE is spread by unwashed |
| survive-no matter what. Even though they have | | | | hands or from gloves that are dirty from touching a |
| been attacked by antibiotic drugs for 60 years, | | | | client or a contaminated environment. |
| bacteria have not given up. Instead, they have | | | | Three Things to Remember About VRE: |
| become resistant to the antibiotics. This means that | | | | |
| many of our most powerful drugs no longer work. | | | | 1. Healthy people are not at risk for getting VRE, but |
| They are powerless against the bacteria they were | | | | they can carry it to others. |
| supposed to destroy! | | | | 2. Be sure to wear gloves when dealing with a client's |
| Drug-resistant bacteria are not new. The man who | | | | body excretions. Wash your hands before and after |
| discovered penicillin, Sir Alexander Fleming, warned of | | | | wearing the gloves. |
| the dangers of drug resistance in 1929. But scientists | | | | 3. VRE have not been shown to travel through the |
| had faith that they could develop newer and more | | | | air. So, wearing a mask when working with a client |
| powerful antibiotics, so they ignored the warnings. | | | | who has VRE is not necessary. |
| Now, scientists are beginning to wonder just who is | | | | Understanding Multi-Drug Resistant TB |
| smarter...people or bacteria? | | | | Tuberculosis is a bacteria that usually infects a |
| By learning more about drug-resistant | | | | person's lungs. Anti-tuberculosis drugs need to be |
| bacteria-including MRSA, VRE, TB, Salmonella and E. | | | | taken every day for six months. Because so many |
| Coli, you'll understand the importance of proper | | | | people with TB stopped taking their medication |
| infection control procedures. And, you'll be able to | | | | before the six months were up, we now face a real |
| help protect yourself and your clients from dangerous | | | | problem with drug-resistant tuberculosis. This |
| infectious diseases. | | | | dangerous strain of TB bacteria is common in places |
| How Do Bugs Become Drug Resistant? | | | | where people are confined and overcrowded. It is |
| Have you ever heard the expressions "survival of the | | | | also a big risk for people with weakened immune |
| fittest" or "the strong will survive"? Well, both | | | | systems, such as people with HIV or AIDS. |
| statements are true about bacteria. Bacteria know | | | | Three Things to Remember About TB: |
| how to survive-even when they are attacked by | | | | |
| strong antibiotics. | | | | 1. If you work with TB clients, you must be fitted for |
| Antibiotics work by killing enough bacteria to control a | | | | a special mask. And you must use the mask |
| person's infection. And, it's the weak germs that get | | | | properly-to protect yourself and your other clients. |
| wiped out first. Because no antibiotic can destroy | | | | 2. If you are asked to watch your client swallow |
| every harmful germ in someone's body, there are | | | | anti-TB pills, be sure you know what to watch for |
| always some bacteria left. (This is especially true if | | | | and what to document. |
| the person stops taking the antibiotic before the | | | | 3. Be sure to report if your client has symptoms of |
| prescription is finished.) And, it's the strongest germs | | | | TB, including: fever, night sweats and a hacking |
| that survive! | | | | cough-which often produces mucus and/or blood. |
| There are a number of ways that the "leftover" | | | | Understanding Salmonella & E. Coli |
| bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic: | | | | Salmonella and E. Coli are two of the most common |
| - They learn how to produce an enzyme that stops | | | | bacteria that live in and on animals. These bacteria |
| the drug from working. | | | | can be passed on to people who eat meat or |
| - The bacteria "mutate", changing their outside | | | | poultry. Salmonella live in the ovaries of most |
| structure. This allows them to hide from the | | | | chickens, so people are most at risk when they eat |
| antibiotic-since the antibiotic doesn't recognize them | | | | raw or undercooked eggs. The E. Coli germs live in |
| anymore. | | | | the intestines of most animals (and humans). It |
| - By changing on the inside, the bacteria find a new | | | | shows up most often in raw milk and undercooked |
| way to produce their harmful toxins. | | | | beef. Both germs can cause serious cases of food |
| Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. | | | | poisoning--and may even be fatal. |
| Bacteria that have become drug-resistant can share | | | | Three Things to Remember About Salmonella & E. |
| this information with other bacteria-teaching them | | | | Coli: |
| how to fight the drugs, too. This means that germs | | | | |
| can learn how to fight an antibiotic before they are | | | | 1. To avoid food poisoning, always wash your hands |
| exposed to it! | | | | before handling food...and after handling raw meat. |
| But, wait...there's more. Bacteria can figure out how | | | | 2. Always clean any surface that has touched raw |
| to fight several different antibiotics after being | | | | meat with soap and hot water. |
| exposed to only one. This means that a germ can | | | | 3. Report any symptoms of food poisoning: nausea |
| become resistant to every antibiotic we have-by | | | | and cramps (usually within 12 to 48 hours after eating |
| being exposed to only a few! This process can be a | | | | the bad food), diarrhea, fever and vomiting. |
| quick one. For example, it only took three years for | | | | Remember... |
| the first bacteria to become resistant to penicillin. | | | | The single most important thing you can do to help |
| Taking an antibiotic when it's not really necessary | | | | control the spread of drug-resistant bacteria is to |
| makes the problem worse because the drug kills lots | | | | wash your hands! For your own safety, follow your |
| of friendly bacteria instead of harmful germs. Without | | | | workplace procedure for handwashing. The safety of |
| these friendly bacteria, a person's body is at risk of | | | | your clients, your coworkers and your family depends |
| being "taken over" by bad bacteria. | | | | on it, too! |