C. diff

  • Treatment of a patient with antibiotics, PPIs eg, allows the bacteria to grow unregulated → symptoms
  • Spore are released in faeces and can survive on surfaces for ages
  • See here for more

MRSA

  • Staph. aureus that have become resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics
  • People are often colonised and have the bacteria living harmlessly on their skin and respiratory tract
  • Patients admitted for surgery or inpatient treatment are swabbed via nose and armpit/groin swabs
  • Eradication involves chlorhexidine body wash and antibacterial nasal creams
  • Antibiotics to treat are Doxycycline, Clindamycin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid

CAUTI

  • Urine sample should be taken directly from the catheter or sample port using aseptic technique - not from catheter bag
  • Patients without symptoms do not require antibiotics even if they have bacteriuria
  • Patients with symptoms require treatment with 7 days of antibiotics. The catheter should be change ASAP - but not delaying antibiotics

Surgical Site Infection

  • MRSA, E. Coli, Pseudomonas, Enterococci
  • IV antibiotics given 30 mins prior to surgery to maximise skin concentration
  • Use antibiotics that will kill anaerobes and coliforms
  • For MRSA colonised patients add teicoplanin or vancomycin

HAP/VAP

  • Hospital acquired - more than 48hr in a hospital.
  • Ventilator acquired - develops in intubated patients in ICU
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Gram negatives are most common