MIMI- Pamphlet PDF

Preview

Summary

Pamphlet of the first task for the course.
Staphylococcus pamphlet....

Description

How does it affect the body? What symptoms does it cause? Staphylococcus aureus infection can manifest in the body in numerous ways, including food poisoning, blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. However, skin infections are the most prevalent. Skin infections often look like boils or pimples, and may be red, swollen and painful with possible drainage. This may include folliculitis, which is a pimple at the base of a hair, or impetigo, which cause a group of sores which rupture and crust. Though dependent on the type of infection, some other common symptoms of a S. aureus infection are fevers, a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, nausea and muscle aches. It is generally recommended to see a doctor if you have an area of prolonged red, irritable or painful skin, blisters, or fevers.

What are the treatment options? Treatment will depend on your illness and health conditions. It is crucial to treat MRSA infection as early as possible since S. aureus increases in count very rapidly and can be life threatening. If you have a rash or skin infection that keeps getting worse do not drain the infection yourself and look for clinical help. A healthcare professional will drain the fluid that has collected in your infected area and sterilise it as much as possible. Your doctor will construct the most appropriate antibiotic treatment that you must follow till the very end of the treatment. Make sure to finish all of your prescribed medication and let your doctor know if the treatment does not work or if your infection worsens.

How is it transmitted?

Staphylococcus aureus infections

S. aureus is easily transmitted from person to person via:  Physical contact or respiration such as coughing and sneezing  Uncovered wounds, especially when playing contact sports, can be a major source of transmission.  Contaminated objects such as towels, bandages or bedding.

Who is at risk? Infants, the elderly, hospitalised patients and people with weakened immune systems, wounds or medical devices within them are the most susceptible. In particular for children, s. aureus can manifest itself as staph scalded skin syndrome or as impetigo (“school sores”) which is highly contagious through touch.

How can its transmission be prevented? There is no specific prevention for s. aureus infections, however the following proper hygiene practices can greatly reduce the risk of s. aureus transmission:

 Regularly washing your hands  Washing clothing and bedding in hot water  Safe handling of food- including heating food above 60 degrees, refrigerating food to prevent spoilage and abstaining from cooking for others if you are infected

 Not sharing personal items such as towels  Keeping wounds cleaned and covered

What is it? Staphylococcus Aureus, also known as Golden staph, is a species of bacteria that is naturally found in the natural environment as well as on the skin and nasal cavity of humans. They are only ‘pathogenic’ (disease-causing) once they have entered the bloodstream or internal tissues and can be both community- as well as hospitalacquired. MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is a very dangerous strain of S. aureus as it’s drug-resistant so there are only limited drugs available to treat this infection.

What type of diseases does it cause? How do you diagnose these diseases? The type or severity of infections it can cause depends on the strain and the site of infection. For example:  On the skin: Impetigo (also called school sores), Furuncles (also known as boils), carbuncles etc  In the stomach: Gastroenteritis  In the bladder: Urinary tract infection  Around the brain: Meningitis To diagnose S. aureus, a sample, whether it’s a tissue sample or bodily secretions, from an infected area are obtained by a medical practitioner or trained pathologist. The sample is sent to a lab and allowed to grow for approximately 48 hours. Any findings will be sent to your clinician....