Infection Control Essay

This is a reflective subsidisation that allow reflect upon a scenario that took get into during the clinical placement of a schoolchild fellate in theatres. The assignment will focus on MRSA protocols in theatres, why it is important and how the character of reflection assists in the continuous professional development of a school-age child nurse. Throughout the assignment the author will use the Rolfe reflective simulation (2001, cited in Jasper, 2003) to explore what happened through out the scenario using the three stages of what, so what and now what. Reflection is a useful tool which wellness misgiving professionals use to improve their skills and advance their future practice by revisiting scenarios that occurred and exploring why something happened, whether it could be improved in any way or to sleep with good practice (Jasper & Rosser, 2013)In accordance to The Code (NMC, 2008) which dictates that all persevering information should be kept confidential, and the Dat a nurseion Act (1998) which alike governs that patient information should be kept secure and released to only those required or to who the patient shares it with All patient details will be kept private and the patient is referred to only as the patient.During a working(a) mathematical operation in theatre the MRSA protocol was being followed. However during the procedure a Doctor left the theatre and then tried to re enter the preparation room, the clean circulating nurse did not take this and informed the doctor to change scrubs and wash their shoes square away. A full description of the scenario is attached as Appendix 1. The nurse was trying to minimize risk of cross infection as wearable and footwear could be contaminated by surfaces (Kumar, Saunders & Watson, 2000). The student nurse involve to have a good understanding of MRSA, protocols and research and evidence ground approaches to deliver safe and appropriate care whilst minimizing risk of cross infection.Methic illin-resistant staphylococci aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to a number of antibiotics that treat infection including methicillin. There are different strains of Staphylococcus aureus making it harder or easier to treat. MRSA pot live in the nostrils or on skin and iseasily transferred from someone to person or surface by contact, it shtup also be dispersed by skin particles through the air (McNeil, Mody & Bradley, 2002), contaminating beds and surfaces (Kumar, Saunders & Watson, 2000 ) and can remain active for longer than 6 months (Wagenvoort, Sluijsmans & Penders, 2000).This is why hand hygienics and environmental cleanliness is so important (Crowcroft, 1996). The bacterium can enter the bloodstream through small cuts or a wound Depending on individuals resistive system state can fight off lower strains of MRSA with minimal infection symptoms such as pain, temperature, dizziness etc. However people with lowered immune systems i.e. people in hospital with exi sting health complaints or infections can be harder to treat (Dougherty &Lister, 2004). MRSA is a virulent pathogen and when it doesnt respond to treatment can cause sepsis, urinary tract infections, endocarditis, pneumonia, contaminative arthritis, osteomyelitis and can even result in death (Weigeit, 2007).During theatre procedures the selfsame(prenominal) source isolation nursing that is used on the wards is used in theatres nursing that is used on the wards (NHS, 2012). St Georges Hospital (NHS St Georges Trust, 2012) theatre polity outlines during theatre and recovery staff numbers should be kept to a minimum, all unnecessary equipment should be removed from theatre, staff should wear preservative clothing and a plastic gown, after the procedure all equipment and surfaces should be cleaned and patients should be nursed using source isolation practices. (Dougherty & Lister, 2004) Source isolation aims to keep the source of infection from spreading anywhere by mover of hand washing, washing, protective clothing and incineration of all disposable waste in a pull stringsled manor. The National Institute for clinical excellence also highlighted the greatness of source isolation regarding MRSA discussing its negative impacts on health ranging from discomfort to full disability or death. (NICE, 2011) in 2009/10 the NHS dealt with almost 1900 bloodstream infections, individually infection cost the NHS around 7000. The aim in following guidelines is to protect patients, protect staff and to protect the environment for the next patient who will enter the theatre having an operation (Dougherty & Lister, 2004).Thanks to evidence based clinical practice and improved hand hygiene MRSA bloodstream infection rate have dropped by 41% in the NHS across Englandsince 2009 and a pass on 29% in 2012/2013 (Department of Health, 2012)From this event the student was able to reflect on research and evidence based approaches specifically in regards to MRSA and gain a more in-depth understanding of MRSA. Reading about bacterium and paths of transmission helped the student nurse have a better understanding of infection control measures and their importance.