Learning About Antibiotic Resistant Infection Treatment
Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a type of bacteria that has developed a resistance to the antibiotics that would kill the bacteria before. This type of infection is generally harder to treat. Two common types of bacteria that are able to become resistant include MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci).
Special Precautions
When a patient has one of these infections, it is critical that she takes all of the necessary precautions not to spread it. Frequent use of
alcohol-based hand sanitizer and hand-washing are effective ways to prevent spreading this infection. Hand-washing should always be done:
- Prior to preparing food
- After blowing or touching the nose
- After using the bathroom
- After any contact with wounds
At home, using disinfectants can help to prevent spreading the infection on surfaces. Bleach is effective, but there are more environmentally-friendly products available that are effective.
When doing laundry, it should be washed separately. Bleach should be used as well. Use color-safe bleach for colored fabrics.
On unclean surfaces, both VRE and MRSA can live for up to several months. Because of this it is very important to clean thoroughly and clean often.
MRSA
For certain cases, an antibiotic is not necessary. An example would be a superficial abscess. In this case the doctor may first want to drain it. If this takes care of it, no further treatment would be needed. In cases where drugs are necessary, some MRSA strains will still respond to drug treatments. Antibiotic resistant infection treatment for MRSA, though this infection seems to be becoming harder and harder to treat, does still include drugs in many cases. Antibiotics that may still be effective include clindamycin, doxycycline, minocycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, daptomycin, linezolid, tetracycline and vancomycin.
In more serious cases, the patient may he hospitalized. During hospitalization, intravenous fluids and oxygen may be given. If kidney failure occurs, kidney dialysis is necessary.
VRE
Newer antibiotics have been developed to be used along with other antibiotics to treat this infection. The combinations of ampicillin, vancomycin and imipenem or the combination of teicoplanin and amoxicillin have been successful in some cases. Like an abscess associated with MRSA, an abscess associated with VRE will typically be drained.
Patients who are seriously ill will often have to be hospitalized. Oxygen and intravenous fluids will be administered as needed.
Resources
Group Health Cooperative. (2009). Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria. Retrieved on April 28, 2011 from Group Health Cooperative: https://www.ghc.org/healthAndWellness/index.jhtml?item=/common/healthAndWellness/medications/managingMedications/mrsa.html
Drugs.com. (2011). Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria. Retrieved on April 28, 2011 from Drugs.com: https://www.drugs.com/cg/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Antibiotic Resistance Questions and Answers. Retrieved on April 28, 2011 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/anitbiotic-resistance-faqs.html
Image Credits
Hand Washing: tdnb – sxc.hu