Skilled nursing facility administrators need to do a complete review of antibiotics to better combat multi-drug resistant organisms, an infection control expert said in May.
“If you don’t look, you don’t know,” warned Gail Bennett, MSN, RN, CIC, co-founder of ICP Associates, at the Life Services Network Annual Meeting in Chicago. “What may be needed is an antibiotic stewardship program in order to make sure it’s the right drug at the right dosage.”
Antibiotic overuse has resulted in new strains of multi–drug resistant organisms, which hit long-term care residents particularly hard. These include Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). The last is considered highly dangerous to residents, and during treatment, “tigecycline as the only thing left,” Bennett noted.
Still, MRSA is more prevalent, as its the second most common overall cause of healthcare-associated infections. In a MRSA outbreak, staff cultures will sometimes be taken to determine whether they have nasal colonization. But that’s a big “if,” Bennett cautioned.
“CDC tells us not to routinely culture,” she said. “It’s a dangerous place to go.”
For all MRDOs, strong environmental cleaners are needed, with special attention to areas that are “high-touch,” she added.
From: McKnight’s
Michael is an accomplished leader with deep expertise in the healthcare sector. As the CEO of Prime Source, he has driven innovation and strategic growth in healthcare procurement and management. His extensive knowledge of the industry has made him a sought-after speaker, regularly lecturing at trade groups, seminars, and to industry executives on the most pressing healthcare trends and challenges. Michael is passionate about exploring the intersection of business and healthcare, providing thought leadership that shapes the future of the field.