Health care asssociated illnesses

• Examples of multi-drug resistant infections

  • MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
  • VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci)
  • MDRE (Multi-Drug Resistant Enterobacteriaceae)
• Where is MRSA found

  Nose and skin.
• How does MRSA infect

  Through cuts.
• What type of bacteria is MRSA

  Gram positive cocci that form clusters.
• What are the precautions taken for MRSA in hospitals


  MRS screening for patients and staff. Reporting of MRSA infections.
• What is bacteraemia

  When bacteria infects blood.
• What type of bacteria is clostridium difficile

  Gram positive anaerobic rod shaped.
• Where is C.difficile found

  GI flora.
• How does C.difficile infection arise


  Antibiotics kill gut flora and decrease competition.
• What are the precautions for C.difficile in hostpitals

  Recording of C.difficile associated diarrhoea.
• What is pseudomembranous colitis

  Colon inflammation
• How does C.difficile cause diarrhoea

  Toxins
• Where is VRE found

  GI flora.
• What are the main ways in which infection is prevented

  Eliminating sources of infection.

  Interrupting transmission.

  Enhancing the ability to resist infection.
• What is sterilisation

  The removal of all viable microbes.
• What is disinfection

  The removal of most viable microbes.