Let's Study VRSA

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) is a strain of
Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to the glycopeptide
antibiotic vancomycin. With the increase of staphylococcal
resistance to methicillin, vancomycin (or teicoplanin) is often a
treatment of choice in infections with methicillin- resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MODE OF TRANSMISSION- CONTACT
Many healthy people, including caregivers, have staph bacteria in or
on their bodies and they do not know it. Staph is commonly found on
the skin and in the nose. Staph can become resistant (cannot be
treated) to many antibiotics, including vancomycin. When this
happens, it is possible for you to develop VRSA.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS
1. You may have VRSA and not know it. You may not be sick or have
any signs or symptoms of infection. This is is called colonization
(kol-ih-nih- ZAY-shun) . When you are colonized with VRSA, you can
give it to other people and make them sick.

2. Having a VRSA infection can cause:

O Dry, rough, scaly skin around the infected area.
O Fatigue (being very tired) or not having any energy.
O Feve
O Nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up).
O Pain and redness at the infection site.
O Swelling or drainage at the infected site.

WHO CAN GET VRSA?
1. Who gets VRSA? Anyone can get VRSA, but you are at a higher risk
if you:

2. Have ever received vancomycin for an infection, or been told that
you have methicillin (meth-ih-SIL- in) resistant staph aureus (MRSA).
MRSA is another mutated type of bacteria.

3. Have had surgery.

4. Are in the intensive care unit (ICU) or have been in the ICU.

5. Have been in close contact with someone who has had VRSA.

6. Have taken antibiotics for conditions that are viral. These would
include the common cold, the flu, and most sore throats.

7. Have been given antibiotics by your caregiver and have not
finished it as instructed by your caregiver.

8. Are a dialysis (di-AL-ih-sis) or diabetic (di-ih-BEH-tik) patient.

9. Have any types of tubes going into your body, like intravenous
(in-truh-V-nus) (IV) lines, or a feeding tube.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Drainage, Tissue or blood culture.

TREATMENT & ROOM PRECAUTION
1. Antibiotic therapy (based on the results of culture eg:
Rifampicin or tetracycline)

2. Fluid drainage. Draining any fluid or pus that has collected in
your infected area

3. Surgery. Depending on how bad your infection is, your caregiver
may need to do surgery. If you have any hardware (metal implants) in
your body, it is possible that the hardware could be causing your
infection. Hardware may include artificial (ar-tih-FISH- ull) (fake)
joints, a pacemaker, or screws and plates to hold a bone in place.
Your caregiver will decide if your metal implants need to be removed

3. Contact precautions. As long as you are in the hospital with
VRSA, you will be on special precautions called "contact
precautions. " This means that any caregiver entering your room will
wear gloves, a gown, and a mask. This is to protect them from
getting and spreading VRSA. You will also be put into a private
room. While in a private room, you will be allowed to have visitors,
but they will need to wear gloves and gowns.

4. In CONTACT PRECAUTION - VRSA may live on many objects. If someone
touches these objects, they may get VRSA and give it to others.
Caregivers will leave certain equipment in your room so that other
patients and caregivers are not exposed to VRSA. This equipment may
include a STETHOSCOPE, thermometer, blood pressure cuff, and tape.
It will not be used on anyone else.

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thanks to ma'am anaski of URC and achinglu of GNC for this SRS.