MRSA and Cdiff

Xbox Live Addict · Nov 17, 2008

I just started to work in a hospital and have noticed there are so many people that have MRSA and C-diff! I am a new CNA and the nurses all they say the reason for their isolation is because of either of the 2. My question is if I am using contact precautions is there still a chance of catching either of these two? I want to be a good nurse but I need to be educated on these two diseases and knowone really gives me in detail what it is. Can someone please eduacte me on these. Thank you!

Both infections are opportunistic - they exist naturally in people's bodies, but if something happens which upsets the balance of your body's natural flora - either through a compromised immune system or through excessive use of powerful antibiotics, these "natural" flora can grow out of control and cause serious infections. Both bugs are resistant to antibiotics, which means they are difficult to treat and require huge doses of powerful antibiotics such as vancomycin which have a narrow therapeutic range, meaning they can easily cause unpleasant, even dangerous adverse effects. Both illnesses are overwhelmingly concentrated in hospitals due to heavy antibiotic use and people with weakened immune systems in close quarters, although community-acquired MRSA is becoming increasingly common.

MRSA- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staph is a natural flora on your skin, and in your nasal passages. Unfortunately, in people with compromised immune systems, such as hospital patients, especially those who have easy ports of entry, the bug can colonize and cause UTIs, pneumonia, and skin infections. I myself am colonized with MRSA and suffered from an ugly skin infection; I had to take two antibiotics x 30 days to get rid of it.

C. diff - clostridium difficile. A natural flora of the intestinal tract which normally doesn't cause healthy people problems. For patients who are on powerful antibiotics, these drugs can kill everything but the C. diff, causing it to grow out of control. It causes copious watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and life-threatening metabolic dysfunction.

Best advice is to follow the ordered precautions religiously, and wash your hands frequently - not only to protect yourself and your family, but also to prevent the infections from spreading from patient to patient.

JRD2002 · Nov 17, 2008

Also on C-Diff patients make sure to wash your hands with soap and water...alcohol sanitizer is ineffective on killing C-Diff.