I. Introduction:
A. Introduction to Thesis: Health care-associated infections are the causes of morbidity, mortality, and increased health care cost despite infection control attempts. Treatment of these infections is complicated by a rise in antibiotic resistance. Infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are problematic; their occurrence has increased over the past decade, and, put side by side to methicillin-susceptible staphylococcal infections, they are fatal.
B. Thesis Statement: Implementing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevention guidelines will cost effectively reduce the incidence of Healthcare acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus.
II. Body
A. An introduction to MRSA;
1. The quantity of MRSA infections in the United States has multiplied considerably over the past decade (Klein, E., Smith, D., & Laxminarayan, R., 2007).
a. Antibiotics have helped the proliferation of MRSA by helping it become resistant to drugs meant to treat it (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), 2008).
b. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25% to 30% of the U.S. population is colonized in the nose with S. aureus (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2005).
B. MRSA clinical presentation;
1. MRSA most commonly colonizes the anterior nares, although the respiratory tract, opened wounds, intravenous catheters, and urinary tract are also potential sites for infection. (Vadgama, A., n.d., p.5).
a. The initial presentation of MRSA is small red bumps that resemble pimples, spider bites, or boils accompanied by fever and occasionally rashes (Frischer, A., 2008)
b. Strains of MRSA are more virulent, spread rapidly, and cause severe infection that can affect vital organs.
C. MRSA Prevention;
1. Hand hygiene is the key to prevent the spread of MRSA.
a. Hand hygiene is the most imperative measure for managing...