MRSA Infections In Florida Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are generally considered a safe space for the elderly to reside. Considering, they get around-the-clock care. While that’s true and people living in such a place receive diligent care. Unfortunately, they are also at risk of contracting certain illnesses commonly found in healthcare settings. Such as MRSA.

MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus commonly called the staph infection. Caused by a strain of bacteria of the same name.  It’s a healthcare-acquired ailment that spreads rapidly in hospitals or hospital-like settings. It starts as a red rash on the skin, appearing as an innocuous dermatological concern. But it can get much more severe if left untreated. And unlike many other healthcare-acquired bacteria, MRSA is resistant to most antibiotic groups. Which is why it isn’t easy to treat.

MRSA in Nursing Homes

In fact, MRSA is notorious for affecting the senior population living in nursing homes. Although it can infect anyone regardless of age. But, older people are more at risk due to weakened immune systems.

Furthermore, nursing home residents live in closed quarters. Which makes it impossible for healthy individuals to avoid getting infected. Especially, once someone gets the infection.

MRSA is a highly contagious illness that can spread from one person to another within seconds of contact. So, if one resident at a nursing home gets ill, they will become a threat to all others. Unless the home employs serious isolating measures.

Transmission of MRSA

As mentioned above, MRSA is transmittable, so it affects everyone living together once it’s in the building. There aren’t some specific ways in which a healthy person can contract the staph infection, but certain conditions and scenarios are more conducive to the transmission of the bacteria.

• Open wounds. If a person has a sore spot, scratch, or scab on their skin and comes in contact with someone carrying MRSA, their chances of getting sick themselves become much higher.
• Intrusive medical equipment. IV lines, catheters, breathing tubes, and all such penetrating medical devices make entering the body much more convenient for the Staph bacteria. And if it enters the bloodstream, it can turn into a greater medical complication and even lead to death.
• Poor hygiene conditions. Unlike hospitals that have a decent standard of cleanliness, nursing homes do not, at least in some cases. Moreover, the hygiene status of those living in a nursing home is also not the most satisfactory due to lack of mobility or overall compromised health; therefore, the transmission of MRSA becomes easier in such a place.

Aside from the risk factors enabling MRSA, poor immunity response can make a person more susceptible to getting the staph infection.

Symptoms of MRSA

The staph infection typically starts as a red, sometimes swollen spot on the skin. But it can worsen and translate into other symptoms as well, making the disease easier to notice.

• Fewer
• Muscle ache
• Pus or drainage from the infected site
• Discomfort or fatigue
• Headaches
• Chills
• Shortness of breath

The mentioned signs may seem mild, but they can turn into life-threatening complications if not tended early.

MRSA Complications

If MRSA worsens, it can take the following forms

• MRSA Osteomyelitis. When a patient’s infection site starts discharging the drainage on the bone instead from the skin, their bones/joints get damaged and in some die- this condition is referred to as MRSA Osteomyelitis, and it can restrict movement while also causing immense pain.
• It is a well-known lung disease that is prone to exacerbation, resulting in death. If the staph bacteria becomes the cause of pneumonia, the patient’s condition can deteriorate drastically, leading to severe complications.
• Entering the bloodstream. If MRSA enters the body through a tube, its chances of mixing up in the bloodstream are higher, which can be tremendously dangerous. Once MRSA assimilates in someone’s blood, they can experience multiple symptoms, and the infection will spread all across their body.

MRSA Treatment And Resistance To Medication

MRSA is a curable disease; however, it can be difficult to do so as the bacteria is resistant to most antibiotics.

Bacterial illnesses are mostly treated with antibiotics, such as penicillins, cephalosporins, and cephamicins, but the staph infection cannot be managed this way, particularly in the elderly. Since an older person’s body has been exposed to most medications, it becomes used to and hence doesn’t respond to many drugs. The lack of response of older people’s bodies to antibiotics and staph’s resistance to said medication group make treating MRSA in nursing home residents pretty challenging.

Therefore, most infected patients are put on heavy medicines for weeks to fight off the foreign microorganism in the body. Aside from those, IV medication is administered to hasten the recovery.

In the cases where the patient develops complications, advanced remedial measures may be taken, such as oxygen therapy and dialysis.

Prevention

In the early stages, secure dressing and quarantining can prevent the infection from spreading. But to avoid the occurrence altogether, nursing homes need to ensure the following precautions are practiced.

• High level of cleanliness and hygiene of the facility and patients
• Meticulous sanitation routines to keep the restrooms clean
• Regular bathing of all residents
• No sharing of personal items such as soap, towels, toothbrushes, etc
• Strict use of protective gear within the building

It may seem like going around the unforgiving bacteria is not that difficult if people in nursing facilities follow the mentioned protocols. But sadly, that’s rarely the case.

Most nursing homes have lousy management and cleaning procedures, which increases the possibility of transmission. On top of that, the staff in such places is known to be negligent, making the residents susceptible to MRSA. Research conducted by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) indicates that 95% of the nursing organizations have questionable care and cleanliness standards. Considering the staggering stat. It’s fair to conclude that the elderly are at a tremendously high risk of catching staph infection in nursing homes.

If your loved one gets the disease due to staff negligence, you should take legal action against them through personal injury law.

Last Words

MRSA can be immensely agonizing, not to mention life-threatening in some cases. So, if your family member catches it because of the lack of care in the nursing home they are in. Consider taking legal action against the management. Doing so will not only serve you and your loved one justice but also get you funds for treatment.