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Prevention and Control of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms Essay

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Introduction The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) “as microorganisms, predominantly bacteria that are resistant to one or more classes of antimicrobial agents” ("Management of multidrug-resistant organism," 2006). The following list represents widely known MDROs: MSSA, or “Methicillin Sensitive Staphlococcus Aureus”, which responds well to typical antibiotics; MRSA, or “Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus”. This bacterium also resistant to oxacillin and cefoxitin medications; VRE, or “Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus”, bacteria resistant to vancomycin medication; CephR-Klebsiella, “Cephalosporin Resistant Klebsiella”, or any Klebsiella bacteria, that is resistant to …show more content…

The importance of controlling MDRO is tremendous, knowing that it cost and additional cost that exceeds an esteemated 5 billion” (12), and according to CDC “more than 98,900 Americas died of HAI”13 Use of Antibiotics Inappropriate use of antibiotics plays a significant part in developing of drug-resistant HAI. Use antibiotics for viral infections; over prescriptions; prescription following “better be safe, then sorry ” rule; fear of health care providers (HCP) being sued, if no medication was prescribed; reimbursement to the acute care facilities for drug cost and expenses for MDRO treatment by insurance companies, all these factors provide no incentive to minimize use of antibiotics.(5) HAI Control In order to control spread of MDROs several strategies have been used: hand hygiene; gloving; contact precautions; staff education; laboratory notification; environmental cleaning and disinfection.(6). Precautions All patients considered as a potential source of infection and treated using standard precautions. When caring for patients with MDROs staff should use gloves, masks and gowns. All equipment used to care for the patient should be handled as contaminated and thoroughly cleaned thereafter. All sharps should be placed in designated containers. Droplet precautions include physical separation – distance of more than three feet; use of gowns, masks and goggles; proper dispose of tissues used by

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