Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Essay

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - Essay Example Decontamination ensures that there are no medical or health implications in the treatment process with regard to renal medicine. This is due to the possibility of infections that could hinder or act as counteractive measures towards the entire of treating renal diseases. Moreover, cleaning and decontamination alleviates all forms of erroneous diagnosis and reinfections with unknown pathogens, as well as conditions that are not part of the patients’ original condition. In addition, decontamination and cleaning keeps the conditions of renal medicine and the facilities hosting it hygienic and clean for the benefit of the staff assigned to work in the facilities. As a result, the conditions of work should be widely favourable and to accommodate the needs of the staff. This is in relation to productivity and lack of infections and unfavourable working conditions for the members of staff. This works through elimination of risk factors that may distract members of staff from the duti es and tasks or create an inconducive atmosphere. Health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient units, play host to a wide variety of microorganisms that prey on patients undergoing treatment. Healthcare-associated infections, also referred to as nosocomial infections, are defined as those that are associated with medical or surgical intervention within the healthcare facility. For an infection to be described as nosocomial, it has to occur following 48 hours of hospitalisation or surgery or 3 days after discharge (Inweregbu, et al 2005, p.1). Such infections are often caused by breaches in control practices and procedures, which have to be met to ensure patient safety. Such breaches include the use of non-sterile environment during medical intervention, resulting in an infection. Healthcare associated infections are caused by a variety of common bacteria, fungi and viruses, which are introduced in a patient during medical intervention in non-sterile conditi ons (Memarzadeh n.d, p.10). Despite marked medical advances in the recent years, most patients are always at risk of developing nosocomial infections. In industrialised countries, healthcare-associated infections have a significant impact on public health by contributing to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Similarly, as healthcare facilities stretch their budgets to facilitate the extended care to the affected patients. It is estimated that such infections occur in every 1of 10 patients who are admitted to the hospital, which accounts for about 5000 deaths. Consequently, financial repercussions felt are enormous and translate to billions of pounds for the National Health Service. The relatively high prevalence of nosocomial infections has seen patients extend their stay in hospitals; incurring additional costs compared to uninfected patients. A study conducted by the European Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care indicated that the prevalence rate in ICU has steeply decli ned from 1.8% in 2006 to 0.1% in 2012 (NHS Choices 2012). Patients under intensive care units are particularly at risk of hospital-acquired infections owing to the invasive procedures accorded to them. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are the main causative agents of hospital-acquired infections in most healthcare facilities, where the pathogens may be present in the patient’s body, the environment, contaminated hospital equipment or the medical professionals. The most common types of healthcare-associated infections are urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical wound infections (Pennsylvania Department of Health n.d, p.1). For instance, following surgery, the patient may develop an infection around the surgical wound