Infections can range in severity, and depending on the
patient, and their overall medical condition, they can easily be fought off, or
take a strong course of antibiotics to treat them.
Nurses should be aware of which viruses and infections are
highly contagious, and take extra precaution when working with infected
patients. Protective gowns, masks, and
gloves are essential. Another
consideration is the length of sleeves worn. Many nurses wear a long-sleeved shirt under their scrub top to stay
warm. If you opt to do this, be sure to
pull sleeves up when working with patients, some bacteria can live on those
sleeve sand be transferred.
The rate of nurses getting infections or virus’ from their
work environment is actually very low. It is presumed some of this is because nurses buildup immunity after
some time, similar to receiving a vaccination. Certain highly contagious strains of bacteria are resistant to
treatments, and special procedures and protocols must be followed to ensure the
safety of everyone. A transfer of an
infection or virus does not necessarily have to occur from one patient to a
nurse, the nurse could be a source of transmission and spread the disease from
one patient to another. Patients with
compromised immune systems are very susceptible to any infection or virus, so
it's important to take precautions, not only for yourself, but for other
patients as well.
Most Common Infections in Hospitalized
Patients
Acinetobacter baumannii
Outbreaks of the Acinetobacter bacteria are mainly found in intensive care units and areas with highly ill people, rarely occurring outside of healthcare settings. The bacteria pose little threat to healthy people, but patients with weakened immune systems are susceptible to transmission. The bacteria can cause blood infections, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections and wound infections, and are often resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Outbreaks of the Acinetobacter bacteria are mainly found in intensive care units and areas with highly ill people, rarely occurring outside of healthcare settings. The bacteria pose little threat to healthy people, but patients with weakened immune systems are susceptible to transmission. The bacteria can cause blood infections, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections and wound infections, and are often resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Bacteroides fragilis
B. fragilis is a normal bacterium found in the intestinal tract and the colon. However, it can cause infections, most commonly with other bacteria. While inherently resistant to penicillins, most antibacterial treatments can eliminate the infection. However, the bacteria's slow growth, increasing antimicrobial resistance and co-occurrence with other pathogens can make treatment more complicated.
B. fragilis is a normal bacterium found in the intestinal tract and the colon. However, it can cause infections, most commonly with other bacteria. While inherently resistant to penicillins, most antibacterial treatments can eliminate the infection. However, the bacteria's slow growth, increasing antimicrobial resistance and co-occurrence with other pathogens can make treatment more complicated.
Burkholderia cepacia
B. cepacia is a group of bacteria. They generally prefer moist environments, often found colonized in intravenous solutions and irrigation systems in healthcare settings. The bacteria pose the highest threat to patients with chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, and can lead to pneumonia due to suppressed lung health. B. cepacia are resistant to a number of antibiotics and can be spread via contaminated medications and medical devices, human to human contact or touching a contaminated surface.
B. cepacia is a group of bacteria. They generally prefer moist environments, often found colonized in intravenous solutions and irrigation systems in healthcare settings. The bacteria pose the highest threat to patients with chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, and can lead to pneumonia due to suppressed lung health. B. cepacia are resistant to a number of antibiotics and can be spread via contaminated medications and medical devices, human to human contact or touching a contaminated surface.
Clostridium difficile
One of the most well-known HAIs, C. diff causes inflammation of the colon, and symptoms can range from diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is the most common symptom, following medication ingestion that eliminates good bacteria from the intestine along with the bad. The bacteria are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, most commonly being transferred from an infection site to another patient by a healthcare provider's hands. C. diff is resistant to many routine cleaning products, including alcohol-based hand cleaners, so it is able to survive in clinical locations for extended periods of time. C. diff can usually be treated with antibiotics, but in some cases a stool transplant may help restore bacterial imbalances.
One of the most well-known HAIs, C. diff causes inflammation of the colon, and symptoms can range from diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is the most common symptom, following medication ingestion that eliminates good bacteria from the intestine along with the bad. The bacteria are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, most commonly being transferred from an infection site to another patient by a healthcare provider's hands. C. diff is resistant to many routine cleaning products, including alcohol-based hand cleaners, so it is able to survive in clinical locations for extended periods of time. C. diff can usually be treated with antibiotics, but in some cases a stool transplant may help restore bacterial imbalances.
Clostridium sordellii
C. sordellii is a rare bacterium, most often causing infections in patients with underlying medical conditions. The bacteria can cause pneumonia, and severe cases can lead to sepsis, though rarely. C. sordellii mainly affects women and is often linked to end of pregnancy, whether the pregnancy resulted in childbirth, abortion or spontaneous abortion. Its transmission route is still unknown.
C. sordellii is a rare bacterium, most often causing infections in patients with underlying medical conditions. The bacteria can cause pneumonia, and severe cases can lead to sepsis, though rarely. C. sordellii mainly affects women and is often linked to end of pregnancy, whether the pregnancy resulted in childbirth, abortion or spontaneous abortion. Its transmission route is still unknown.
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
The Enterobacteriaceae bacteria family is infamous for its resistance to antibiotics, mainly carbapenem antibiotics, the class of antibiotics often used as a final line of defense against infections. Enterobacteriaceaeare normally found in the gut but can cause infections if they travel to other parts of the body. CRE can be transmitted via human to human contact or coming in contact with an infected device, such as a catheter.
The Enterobacteriaceae bacteria family is infamous for its resistance to antibiotics, mainly carbapenem antibiotics, the class of antibiotics often used as a final line of defense against infections. Enterobacteriaceaeare normally found in the gut but can cause infections if they travel to other parts of the body. CRE can be transmitted via human to human contact or coming in contact with an infected device, such as a catheter.
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