HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTION

DEFINITION & GENERAL INFO

• A group of bacteria that turn violet in the gram staining method of bacterial differentiation.
• It's resistant to most drugs and antibiotics.
• Evolve to be more resistant then pass it on to newer bacteria.
• Causes infections like pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections and meningitis in healthcare settings.

SYMPTOMS

• Because Gram Negative bacteria causes many illnesses, there are multiple symptoms to each.
• Some of the symptoms for some of these infections are headaches, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, cough with phlegm, fever, etc.

WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?

• Many patients who are considered very ill can get the bacteria.
• The elderly can get it as well.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

• Gram negative bacteria are spread mostly through indirect and direct contact but they can also be spread through insect bites.

HOW IS IT SPREAD IN THE HOSPITAL?

• In the hospital, the bacteria can spread through catheters, ventilators and open wounds.

HOW DO WE PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING?

• Patients and healthcare workers can keep their hands clean.
• Have healthcare workers wear gloves and gowns.

HOW DO WE TREAT IT IN THE HOSPITAL?

• Because the bacteria has evolved to become resistant to antibiotics, they use broad spectrum antibiotics and if that doesn't work they use older drugs such as Colistin which can have toxic side effects.

FINANCIAL/SOCIAL OUTCOME?

• Because of the different infections it causes there is different types of costs, however they average out to $115,512. That includes the hospital stay, antibiotics, and the ICU stay.

CITATIONS

• http://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/gram-negative-bacteria.html
• http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/antimicrobialresistance/examples/gramnegati...
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17110877