Course Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes nosocomial and community-acquired infections that are associated with serious morbidities and high mortality rates. It is resistant to many antibiotics. It can cause skin infections, respiratory infections, sepsis, and infections in most any organ system. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus has gathered significant attention in the medical literature as the most common pathogen causing surgical incision infections. The popular media has sensationalized MRSA as the “superbug” and “flesh-eating bacteria.” The etiology, transmission and treatment of MRSA are discussed.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- I. Introduction
- II. MRSA Epidemiology and Incidence
- III. Types of MRSA Infections
- 1. Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
- 2. Surgical Wound Infection
- 3. Necrotizing Fasciitis
- 4. Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Pneumonia
- 5. Bone and Joint Infection
- 6. Bacteremia and Sepsis
- IV. MRSA Infection Onset
- 1. Exposure to MRSA
- 2. Evasion of Host Immune Response
- V. Transmission of MRSA
- VI. Treatment of MRSA Infections
- 1. Vancomycin
- VII. Prevention of Transmission
- 1. Infection Control
- 2. Contact Precautions
- 3. Screening
- 4. Decolonization
- VIII. Case Study: Necrotizing Fasciitis
- IX. Case Study: CA-MRSA
- X. Summary
Author
Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI
Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.
