Write a 125- to 150-word response to each of the following questions: ? Staphylococcus ? What is the infectious agent (pathogen) that causes this infectious disease? For example, the name of the bacteria, virus, or parasite. A) Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, also called “staph”, cause the infectious agent (pathogen) MRSA. MRSA or “mercer” stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This strain of staph is resistant to most antibiotics and can be fatal.
MRSA Staph infections are caused by excessive antibiotic use, which has resulted from routine prescriptions for colds, flu, and viral infections that are unresponsive to these drugs. The antibiotics that are in foods, water and germs mutate. If you have a staph infection, it may likely have come from bacteria you have carried around for a while. Staph bacteria are able to live on nonliving objects, like pillowcases, towels, and clothing. They can be transferred by contact with such objects, and for some individuals, can cause serious illness. The germs survive treatment and become stronger.
? How is this infectious agent transmitted through food or water? A) Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness. It is caused by eating foods or drinking water contaminated with toxins by Staphylococcus aureus. It is important to prevent the contamination before the toxin can be produced. These are some tips that can be done to prevent the spread of Staphylococcus1) Wash your hands and under your fingernails with soap and water before handling and preparing food. 2) Do not serve or prepare food for others if you have cuts or wounds on your wrists. 3) Do not prepare food if you have a nose or eye infection.
4) Keep kitchens and serving areas sanitized. 5) Store cooked food in a wide shallow container and refrigerate as soon as possible. 6) If food is to be stored longer than two hours, keep cold foods cold (40 degrees F or under) and hot foods hot (over 140 degrees F). ? What is an example of a real life outbreak of this foodborne illness in the United States? A) Emerging Infectious Diseases reported an example of a real life outbreak of community-acquired foodborne illness caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in January 2002, from the Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
A family purchased a dinner of shredded barbeque pork and coleslaw from a convenience and delicatessen market. The pork was reheated in the home microwave, and three adults ate the food after it was bought. Three to four hours after eating the meal, the three adults who had not eaten another common meal together in the preceding week had nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. The two children who did not eat the food did not become sick. Two of the three adults were hospitalized for evaluation, and then they were treated and released. ?What are the clinical symptoms, duration of the disease, and treatment if any?
A) Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can cause a variety of symptoms. These range from minor discomfort to life threatening infections. The skin staph infection will appear red and swollen, painful to the touch and result in boil or abscess. The site with the abscesses caused by the staph infection will have drainage like liquid pus. You may feel as though you have the flu upon contracting a staph infection, including symptoms like headache, chills, fatigue, and body aches. If the infection spreads to the lungs shortness of breath may arise causing pneumonia to develop.
How long staph is contagious depends on how soon the condition is properly identified, diagnosed and treated. Staph infections are treated with antibiotics and topical creams with antiseptic that address the infection at the skins surface to kill of the infection and keep it from spreading. ? What steps can be taken to prevent further outbreaks? Include individual as well as environmental precautions and methods. A) Staph infections start when an open wound becomes infected by staph bacteria. It can be transferred from person to person due to poor hygiene or through contaminated surfaces.
To prevent staph infections it is important wash your hands frequently. Always carry hand sanitizer whenever possible. Avoid cuts and wounds on other individuals, especially if they are infected by Staph. Wash and dry uniforms after each use. Do not share personal items. Disinfect your cooking space. Visit the doctor if you feel you have been exposed to staph. Do not try to drain the boil yourself. Do not share athletic equipment. Athletics should shower before using the whirlpool. Wash anything that has a possibility of carrying Staph bacteria immediately. Drink plenty of water to help flesh out bacteria from your body.