Managing the threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in home care.
Severe fatal complications such as pneumonia, cutaneous abscesses, empyema, necrotizing fasciitis, and sepsis can result from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) even for healthy people. An overview of managing the threat of MRSA in home care is presented. The home healthcare nurse can be proactive with MRSA infections by following and teaching strict medical asepsis while assessing the slightest signs and symptoms indicating that a patient is deteriorating or not responding to the prescribed antibiotic or wound care. This article aims to increase awareness of community-acquired (CA)-MRSA, to offer suggestions for preventing CA-MRSA, and to describe methods for managing this infectious process in the home.
Grossman
Sheila
S
Fairfield University School of Nursing, Fairfield, CT 06430-5195, USA. sgrossman@mail.fairfield.edu
Mager
Diana Debartolomeo
DD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000382:microbiology; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007169:Impetigo / Q000382:microbiology; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D016635:Universal Precautions
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal