MRSA – global threat and personal disaster: patients' experiences

Abstract

ANDERSSON H., LINDHOLM C. & FOSSUM B. (2011) MRSA – global threat and personal disaster: patients' experiences. International Nursing Review58, 47–53 Aim: To ascertain and describe the patients' knowledge, perceptions and experiences of being methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) positive. Background: Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a serious global threat. MRSA can cause wound infection, pneumonia, septicaemia and mortality. This qualitative study has focused on patients' experiences of living with MRSA. Methods: Fifteen patients with MRSA‐infected wounds were interviewed. All data were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to content analysis. Findings: Information about the MRSA diagnosis often caused a shock‐like reaction. Patients' perception of being MRSA positive was stigmatizing as plague or leprosy; they felt dirty and felt that they were a severe threat to their environment. Fears of infecting someone else and being rejected were commonly expressed. The key findings emerged as a theme: Being exposed to others' shortcomings and being a threat to others' health. Three categories were identified: understanding and emotional reactions, treatment by the healthcare professionals and consequences and expectations. Gaps in both patient and staff knowledge of MRSA led to unnecessary misunderstandings, causing fear, social isolation and suffering. Conclusions: Living with MRSA can be extremely stressful for the patients. Knowledge and empathy from staff involved in their care is crucial to optimize patients' experiences. Staff education to meet patients' demand for information and prevent contamination is essential.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) management in palliative care units and hospices in Germany: A nationwide survey on patient isolation policies and quality of life

“…Palliative Medicine 27 (1) options of the individual patient. Furthermore, the degree to which the PCU or hospice was embedded in a larger institution facilitating further MRSA transmission played a role in perception of clinical relevance and in decision-making.…”

“…For palliative care units (PCU) and hospices, the emergence of microbial strains highly resistant to antiinfective therapy such as MRSA poses an additional challenge, as regimens that prevent MRSA transmission impose barriers and restrictions on patients and their relatives adversely affecting patient related outcomes. 1,2 Although prevalence numbers in Germany are currently stable, 3 MRSA remains a serious health care issue throughout Europe, still being the most commonly identified antibiotic-resistant pathogen in European hospitals. 4 Thus, rigorous application of such protocols may be essential for infection control but at the same time could jeopardize therapeutic efforts of palliative care.…”

Sykepleie til pasienter med multiresistente bakterier

“…Flere studier bekrefter at lite kunnskap om smittevernrutiner kan bidra til at sykepleierne føler seg utrygge hos disse pasientene (8). I denne studien svarte flest sykepleiere i gruppen «infek-sjon» slik at de viste tilstrekkelig kunnskap, mer trygghet og høyere egenrapportert kompetanse enn sykepleiere i gruppen «medisin».…”

“…Dersom man ikke opplever å ha tilstrekkelig kunnskap om multiresistente bakterier eller vet hva ulike isoleringsregimer innebaerer, vil man sannsynligvis føle seg mindre trygg eller kompetent i situasjonen. Dette kan lett videreføres til pasientene (8,9,30).…”

“…Kunnskap om smittevern har derfor stor betydning for å redusere smitteoverføring i praksis. Mangel på kunnskap er en av de viktigste, potensielle risikoer for smitte med multiresistente bakterier (8). Økt kunnskap kan gjøre sykepleierne tryggere og mer sikre i utøvelse av sykepleie, og redusere frykt for multiresistente bakterier hos pasienter og sykepleiere (9).…”