Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals increases levels of MRSA infections

Overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals increases levels of MRSA infections

June 25, 2008

A review article authored by a University of Queensland academic has found overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals are two key factors in the transmission of MRSA (Meticillin - Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infections worldwide.

Dr Archie Clements, from the School of Population Health, reported overcrowding and understaffing increased levels of MRSA infections, which lead to increased inpatient hospital stay, bed blocking, overcrowding and more MRSA infections.




The review included information from 140 papers and Dr Clements was part of a team of seven authors.

The article titled: Overcrowding and understaffing in modern health-care systems: key determinants in Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) transmission, was published today in the July edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Dr Clements said MRSA was an antibiotic-resistant type of Staphylococcus Aureus, a common bacteria present on the skin and in the nostrils of many healthy people.

"MRSA often colonises hospital patients to no ill effect but, if present in a surgical wound or carried to the bloodstream by an intravenous catheter, it can cause serious infection and possibly the death of the patient," he said.

Dr Clements said overcrowding and understaffing caused higher levels of MRSA because of its impact on hand hygiene, the number of contacts between healthcare workers and different patients, overburdening of screening and isolation programmes and by causing staff burnout.

"MRSA worsens overcrowding because patients with MRSA stay longer in hospitals and, if isolation in multi-bed rooms is done, beds not occupied by the MRSA patient are also closed to other patients," he said.

"Overcrowding and understaffing, root causes of the MRSA problem, are partly related to policy that promotes high patient throughput and fewer beds, and partly to a diminishing, ageing health care workforce.

"These problems are likely to continue or worsen, and impact on patient health and safety, unless new ways are found to reduce overcrowding and understaffing of hospitals."

Dr Clements hoped to use the findings to initiate more research into the relationship between overcrowding/understaffing and MRSA to answer questions such as: "What are the optimal bed occupancy and staffing rates for preventing avoidable MRSA infections while maintaining current levels of care?" and "What is the likely impact of MRSA interventions under conditions of overcrowding and understaffing?"

Research Australia



Related MRSA Infection Current Events and MRSA Infection News Articles MRSA Infection Current Events and MRSA Infection News RSS MRSA Infection Current Events and MRSA Infection News RSS
MRSA study suggests strategy shift needed to develop effective therapeutics
USA300-the major epidemic strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing severe infections in the United States during the past decade-inherits its destructiveness directly from a forefather strain of the bacterium called USA500 rather than randomly acquiring harmful genes from other MRSA strains.

University of Virginia Study Reveals Promising Method for Reducing MRSA Infections in Hospital Intensive Care Units
Doctors at the University of Virginia Health System have significantly reduced MRSA infections among surgical intensive care patients by using antibiotic cycling, a method of rotating drugs at regular intervals.

Community-associated staph infections involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase
The incidence of antibiotic-resistant staph infections associated with being acquired in the community and not in health care institutions increased almost seven-fold in Chicago's Cook County Hospital system between 2000 and 2005.

Maggots rid patients of MRSA
University of Manchester researchers are ridding diabetic patients of the superbug MRSA - by treating their foot ulcers with maggots.

New approach could lower antibiotic requirements by 50 times
Steven Hagens, previously at the University of Vienna, told Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI, that certain bacteriophages, a type of virus that infects bacteria, can boost the effectiveness of antibiotics gentamicin, gramacidin or tetracycline.

New approach could lower antibiotic requirements by 50 times
Antibiotic doses could be reduced by up to 50 times using a new approach based on bacteriophages.

MRSA toxin acquitted: Study clears suspected key to severe bacterial illness
Researchers who thought they had identified the bacterial perpetrator of the often severe disease caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) had better keep looking: Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have exonerated a toxin widely thought to be the guilty party.

New Treatment - First in Years - Demonstrated For Dangerous Staph Infections
Duke University Medical Center researchers have demonstrated in an international clinical trial the effectiveness and safety of a new drug for treating bloodstream and heart infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a major cause of sickness and death worldwide.

New Study Says Two Million Americans Harbor Drug-Resistant Superbug
New research estimates that about 2 million people carry a strain of drug-resistant bacteria in their noses.

UK's MRSA problem is in the genes - Microbiology Today: February 2005 issue
Britain's MRSA epidemic may be due to the emergence of highly transmissible clones of the superbug, according to an article in the February 2005 issue of Microbiology Today, the quarterly magazine of the Society for General Microbiology.
More MRSA Infection Current Events and MRSA Infection News Articles
MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections, Second Edition

MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections, Second Edition
by M.D., Hernan R. Chang (Author)

Despite the large amount of information available through books, Internet sites, and libraries, more and more people with staphylococcal and MRSA infections present to their primary care physicians offices, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms. The disease seems to continue to spread. Most people with a history of MRSA colonization get a reassuring answer when they ask about their contagiousness. The plain truth is that you are potentially contagious. In order to understand the magnitude of this epidemic and to realize how the appearance of MRSA has and will influence our lives and our culture, consider the classic handshake. The handshake will never again be the same after MRSA. The information presented in this book is intended to provide a general understanding of MRSA and...

MRSA Infections Occur Most Frequently in Hospitals and Healthcare Photographic Poster Print, 24x18

MRSA Infections Occur Most Frequently in Hospitals and Healthcare Photographic Poster Print, 24x18
by Art.com

Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your...

AlliMed Physican Strength Allicin - For MRSA, LYMEs, Infection, Bacteria, Fungus- 450 mg, 60 VCaps, Original Formula

AlliMed Physican Strength Allicin - For MRSA, LYMEs, Infection, Bacteria, Fungus- 450 mg, 60 VCaps, Original Formula
by AlliMax International, LTD

AllimedTM capsules contain 450 mg of stabilised Allisure® AC-23 allicin powder natures anti-microbial agent. Studies have proven AllimedTM capsules can be used to help resolve extreme conditions with a bacterial, fungal or viral cause. AllimedTM has been proven effective against multi drug resistant species of MRSA, Methacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, VRSA and GRSA bacteria. (ECCMID conference April 2005 Coppenhagen, Denmark. Click here to read the article) Less severe issues like upset stomach that causes dysentary, dysbiosis and/or vomiting is usually caused by an E. Coli infection or sometimes Salmonella or Clostridium bacteria. AllimedTM can kill these pathogens very effectively. Multiple AllimedTM capsules may be required to be effective against these virile pathogens if...

Understanding MRSA: Super Staph Infections

Understanding MRSA: Super Staph Infections
Directed By: Information Television Network
Also With: Information Television Network (Producer)



Understanding MRSA: Super Staph Infections

Understanding MRSA: Super Staph Infections

For the past 60 years, antibiotics have rescued countless lives from potentially deadly bacterial infections -- but the germs are learning to fight back. Infections that don't respond to traditional antibiotics are on the rise across the country. One of the most common of these mutant pathogens is known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA. Unlike common staph infections, MRSA cannot be treated with methicillin, amoxicillin or many related antibiotics. MRSA can strike anyone, although hospital patients are the most vulnerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in intensive care units, 65 percent of all staph infections are now caused by MRSA. While researchers scramble to create new antibiotics, experts are stressing steps to prevent MRSA from...

  MRSA Cleaning Kit (Home/Office)
by Clean Buddies

MRSA Cleaning and Management Kit is designed to assist in a MRSA clean up by providing the necessary equipment, organizational tools, and MRSA information needed to successfully clean up after a MRSA contamination.

Mueller StaphASeptic Bactericide Gel Mini Packs

Mueller StaphASeptic Bactericide Gel Mini Packs
by Mueller

Prevents skin infections caused by antibiotic-resistant staph (MRSA) and other germs. Parents, school administrators, coaches and kids need to be aware of the growing problem of antibiotic resistant germs including methicillin resistant staph (MRSA) because they spread easily from person to person and are appearing at epidemic rates. MRSA can spread through: Close skin-to-skin contact Cuts in the skin Contaminated surfaces and equipment Poor personal hygiene.
Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is difficult to determine source of contact and spreads quickly, especially through young athletes who share contaminated equipment. Commonly used topical antibiotics, including popular triple antibiotics, have not been shown to prevent MRSA infections and can cause skin irritation in nearly...

MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections

MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections
by M.D., Hernan R. Chang (Author)

We are witnessing a worldwide increase in infections with Staphylococcus aureus, commonly called S. aureus, or simply "Staph." Many of these infections are due to invasive strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). People not involved in a healthcare setting are often not aware of this silent epidemic. This lack of awareness includes the significance and danger of "community-acquired" MRSA infections and their potential threat to the healthcare system. The contents of this book are geared to the reader who does not have a medical or healthcare industry background. The information presented is intended to provide a general understanding about Staph infections. In order to curb the worldwide menace of Staph and MRSA infections, a significant behavioral change is needed. A...

  MRSA infections are invading locker rooms: athletes playing dirty.(Clinical Rounds methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus): An article from: Family Practice News
by Heidi Splete (Author)

This digital document is an article from Family Practice News, published by International Medical News Group on October 1, 2003. The length of the article is 606 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: MRSA infections are invading locker rooms: athletes playing dirty.(Clinical Rounds methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Author: Heidi Splete
Publication: Family Practice News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2003
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 33 Issue: 19 Page: 34(1)

Distributed by Thomson...

MRSA Infections Occur Most Frequently in Hospitals and Healthcare Photographic Poster Print, 12x16

MRSA Infections Occur Most Frequently in Hospitals and Healthcare Photographic Poster Print, 12x16
by AllPosters.com

AllPosters.com is the world's #1 seller of posters, prints, photographs, specialty products and framed art. We're dedicated to bringing our customers the best selection of high quality wall décor that is perfect for their home or office. Browse our catalog of over 300,000 items that include entertainment and specialty posters, decorative prints, and art reproductions. Whether you're looking for your favorite movie or music poster, a framed Monet reproduction, or a print of the Eiffel Tower you will find it at AllPosters.com. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/allposters to find Special Offers and search by subject category or artist. AllPosters.com provides unmatched service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your...

© 2009 BrightSurf.com