One out of four nursing home residents harbor the MRSA bacteria in some settings.
Two in 100 people in the general public carry MRSA, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but one out of four nursing home residents harbor the bacteria in some settings. MRSA is a bacterial infection that can have serious consequences for residents in nursing homes. Because it is resistant to traditional antibiotics, MRSA can have severe complications, such as pneumonia or blood poisoning. Nursing home residents who are less able to fight off infections because of age, illness, or compromised immune systems are particularly at risk.
Nursing home residents deserve protection against antibiotic resistant infections, such as MRSA. Too often, these infections are the result of poor hand hygiene and flawed care processes. Our nursing home lawyers are experts at holding nursing homes and health care institutions accountable when they fail to properly care for their residents. We offer a free consultation, so there is never any risk for you. Make the call today and stand up for your loved one who suffered unnecessary injury due to poor care at a nursing home.
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What Is MRSA
MRSA is an abbreviation for Methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aureus. It is a strain of bacteria that is harder to treat than other bacterial infections. There are certain environmental conditions that allow MRSA bacteria to proliferate. MRSA is often found in environments with close living quarters where hygiene standards are diminished. These bacteria also can thrive in medical devices such as catheters and breathing tubes. People with weaker immune systems may be more susceptible to MRSA infections.
At first, a staph infection may appear as a red bump, similar to a pimple or insect bite. As the infection develops, the wound can become warm to the touch, puss-filled, and cause a fever. It can spread throughout the body to the lungs, heart, joint, bones, or bloodstream. People with MRSA may experience symptoms such as headache, chills, muscle aches, lethargy, or shortness of breath. These types of symptoms are an indicator that MRSA has spread into the blood system.
Complications of MRSA Infections
Once these type of symptoms appear, serious complications can arise. If the infection spreads to the bone, an MRSA osteomyelitis infection can cause part of the bone to die. This infection is often painful and can limit mobility. Another complication is a MRSA pneumonia, which is a dangerous lung infection.
Diagnosis and Treatment of MRSA Infections
MRSA can be diagnosed through a laboratory test with a skin or nose swab. Once MRSA is confirmed, the infection is treated with antibiotics. While MRSA is resistant to many strains of antibiotics, treatment options do exist. It’s important that patients take the antibiotic as prescribed by their doctor and finish the full course of the prescription. Sometimes, a MRSA wound infection may require surgery.
Nursing Home And MRSA Infections
Nursing homes and hospitals are a common place to contract a MRSA infection. It’s important that nursing home adhere to strict infection control and prevention measures to reduce the risk of MRSA infections in their residents. Nursing homes should track and monitor infections in the facility to identify trends and take actions. Each nursing home should identify a team of staff members to study the use of antibiotics in the facility to optimize their use of antibiotics.