Nursing 213

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide Expected outcomes for nosocomial infections: • Body temperature within normal limits • Demonstrates adequate nutritional intake and maintains body weight • Verbalizes understanding of infection control precautions • Demonstrates appropriate level of consciousness • Demonstrates adequate oxygenation and clear breath sounds Other Contagious Infections Staphylococcal Infections Staph infections are becoming more common with the resistant strains of staphylococci MRSA and VRE. Regular staphylococci can also cause infection, although they are not as hard to treat. Staphylococci are a normal part of the skin’s flora, but it causes infection through open wounds. This infection is highly contagious and can be spread in hospitals, daycare centers, and nursing homes. Most healthy individuals are not at risk but elderly, small children, babies, and people who are immunocompromised can become extremely and systemically ill if left untreated. These infections almost always require cultures to see if it is a resistant strain of bacteria in order to find the proper treatment. Cultures from blood, wound drainage, and sputumwill show the causative organism and the appropriate antibiotic needed within 72 hours. Most physicians will begin treatment at the onset of symptoms with an antibiotic that has not shown resistance to most strains of Staphylococcus. The treatment for staphylococcus needs to be aggressive to prevent systemic infection (sepsis). Signs and symptoms of staphylococcal infections: • Erythema around wounds • Abscesses with purulent drainage • Boils • Fever • Malaise • Rash Nursing assessment for staphylococcal infections: • Head to toe general assessment o Check temperature o Skin assessment for boils, draining wounds, erythema, andrash • Review laboratory reports o CBC with differential o Wound cultures o Blood cultures

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