Enterococcus Faecium Research Paper

Healthcare-associated infections from invasive medical devices are linked to high morbidity, mortality, and costs worldwide. Especially in central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2017), “Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the fourth most common type of healthcare-associated infection, with an estimated 93,300 UTIs in acute care hospitals in 2011. UTIs additionally account for more than 12% of infections reported by acute care hospitals. Virtually all healthcare-associated UTIs are caused by instrumentation of the urinary tract” (p. 7-1).

These bacteria are spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges of an infected individual or with infected skin lesions. The risk of spread is greatest when an individual is ill, such as when people have strep throat or an infected wound. Individuals who carry the bacteria but have no symptoms are much less contagious. Treatment of an infected person with an

Catheter related bloodstream infections are not only responsible for prolonged hospital stays and increased hospital costs, it is also responsible for increased mortality of the hospitalized patients. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), an estimate of 30,100 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) occur in intensive care units and wards of U.S. acute care facilities each year. CLABSI is a serious hospital-acquired infection that occurs when bacteria enters the bloodstream through central venous catheters. CLABSI is preventable as long as health-care personnel practice aseptic techniques when working with the catheter. A blood culture swabbed from the tip of the catheter is needed to confirm the

CAUTIs are the most commonly reported HAI in the US. Although morbidity and mortality from CAUTI is considered to be relatively low compared to other HAIs, the high prevalence of urinary catheter use leads to a large cumulative burden of infections with resulting infectious complications and deaths ("Prevention of CAUTI-Acute care settings," 2011, p. 1). In addition, bacteriuria frequently leads to unnecessary antimicrobial use, and urinary drainage systems may serve as reservoirs for MDR bacteria and a source of

Catheter associated bloodstream infection (CRBSI) occurring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are frequent, complication related to it are potentially fatal and costly (Kim & Sandra, 2009). According to the center of disease control, an approximate of two hundred and fifty thousand cases of CRBSIs have been estimated to occur annually which cause health care to cost approximately twenty five thousand dollars per case, and between 500 to 4,000 patient die due to blood stream infection (CDC, 2002). Approximately 90 percent of blood stream infection occurs from central venous insertion (CVC). Even though CRBSI occurs from different ways, the most common source is contamination of the catheter by skin flora on insertion, skin flora

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common nosocomial infection; accounting for up to 40% of infections reported by acute care hospitals. Up to 80% of UTIs are associated with the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter. Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent the largest proportion of healthcare associated infections (HAI). Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) increases hospital cost and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality .CAUTIs are considered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to represent a reasonably preventable complication of hospitalization. As such, no additional payment is provided to hospitals for CAUTI treatment-related costs.CAUTIs can lead to

Infection can occur when open skin or wounds come into contact with foreign bodies carrying C.tetani spores such as soil. The typical example is stepping on a rusty metal contaminated with soil, dust, or feces. Because C. tetani is an indigenous intestinal flora of humans and animals, spores under anaerobic conditions in the wound, will germinate to vegetative C. tetani cells which produce the exotoxin in vivo (in the living body of a plant or animal). Person to person does not occur, but it’s infectious as acquired through environmental exposure. (Burton’s Microbiology for the Health Sciences 2011 P248 &

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), specifically those involving multi-drug resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as higher cost of healthcare and longer length of hospital stays for patients. Each year, millions of people acquire infections while receiving care, treatment, and services in hospitals and other health care organizations.

Usage of indwelling urinary catheters in critically ill patients can seem to be a permanent fixture in intensive care units. Most critical care nurse expect their patients to have an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) in place without much regard to the risk of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) or the ability to implement IUC alternatives. Critical care patients may require IUC usage due to diagnosis, need for accurate hourly intake and output measurements, or other specified documented reasons. The risk of acquiring a catheter associated urinary tract infections is a result of IUC usage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-associated

This shows a vast majority of infection cases are likely to be witnessed in the future if appropriate measures are not taken to curb the challenge. While the frequency of CLABSI outside ICU is not known, patients who are outside the intensive care units are equally at risk. However, Baker (2016) found out that the cases of central line infections in patients transitioned from ICUs to step-down units or outside the intensive care units had increased in some areas. The efforts to prevent the infections through research into the problems associated with CLABSI also represent substantial mechanisms in place to curb this health problem (Smith, Mba-Jonas, Tourdjman, Schimek, DeBess, Marsden-Haug & Harris, 2014).

Enterococcus is a gram positive coccus typically found in the normal microbiota of the human and animal gastrointestinal tracts, due to the high acidic pH of the stomach acid, it is mostly found in the intestines, and in the guts of insects. They are diplococcus, meaning they remain in pairs and are sometimes found in short chains. The sizes of the average species are 0.6-2.0 microns (μ). Most Enterococcus species are non-motile but some species have scanty flagella giving them the ability to become motile. Enterococci are not capsule formers. They also fail to produce endospores. In incubation, the optimum temperature is 35ᵒC with a growth temperature ranging from 10-45ᵒC. The incubation time ranges from 18-24 hours. They can survive heat

After microorganisms enter the patient’s body they can go to the lungs and cause pneumonia. Central line-bloodstream infections occur when microorganism enter the bloodstream by the intravenous line. Microorganisms are transfer into the blood stream by inadequate hand hygiene or improper intravenous fluid, tubing, and site care practice. Multidrug-resistant organisms can cause infections of the blood, skin, or organ systems. These infections can arise due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics, which can result in the microorganisms becoming more resistant to antibiotic therapy. Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus and Clostridium difficile are examples of this kind of infection. Health care employees need to know the different types of hospital acquired infections and how they are spread to be able to effectively prevent them.

Enterococci are gram positive cocci that can occur singly, in pairs or as short chains. They are facultative anaerobes, possessing the ability to grow in the presence or absence of oxygen. Enterococci can withstand harsh environmental conditions. There are currently 23 enterococci species and they are divided into five groups based on their interaction with mannitol, sorbose and arginine 5 .E. faecalis can survive extreme challenges. Its pathogenicity ranges from life-threatening diseases in compromised individuals such as bacteremia, septicemia, endocarditis, and urinary tract infections to less severe conditions, such as infection of obturated root canals with chronic apical periodontitis.The persistence of E.faecalis might be due to the

The Quality Improvement nursing process that I have chosen to research is patient safety. I have chosen to focus specifically on the topic of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI’s) during hospitalization and their preventions. It is estimated that 15-25% of hospitalized patients receive a urinary catheter throughout their stay, whether or not they need it. A large 80% of all patients diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be attributed to a catheter (Bernard, Hunter, and Moore, 2012). The bacteria may gain entry into the bladder during insertion of the catheter, during manipulation of the catheter or drainage system, around the catheter, and after removal.