Healthcare and Life Sciences Quiz for Infection - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theHealthcare and Life Sciences Quiz for Infection Control. Answer: The mode of action of the beta lactam antibiotics is strongly associated with the nature of the bacterial cell membrane which also determines the non-enzymatic anti-pathogenic activities. Primarily, the action of the antibiotic is usually determined by the various interactions between the drug and the cell membrane as well as the inhibition of enzymes essential to the function of the cell membrane through concomitant inhibition. The antibiotics therefore inhibit the action of enzymes such as transepeptidase which is involved in the final stages of peptidoglycan biosynthesis (KONG, et al., 2010). The enzymes targeting the cytoplasm membrane therefore combine with the antibiotic at molecular level hence the name penicillin binding proteins. The antibiotic action is usually affected by its ability to stop the cell division and growth then initiate and autolytic action that leads to tissue death. However there are a phenomenon that usually leads to the resistance of Gram-positive bacteria to beta lactam antibiotics. Such situations are usually influenced by the interactions between the antibiotics and the bacteria. The main factor influencing the resistance of the bacteria to the drug involves the nature of the penicillin binding proteins whose modifications create the drug resistance. There are further actions by the beta lactam antibiotics that make them able to pass through bacteria with two membranes. Some of the examples of bacteria that exhibit such levels of resistance include enterococci, pneumococcus and staphylococcus. Such PBP modifications are usually rare in the Gram-negative bacteria (Kohanski, Dwyer Collins, 2010). Staphylococcus aureus is a common problem in healthcare environments, especially Methicillin-resistant strain MRSA. Hospitaal management usually isolates MRSA strains which are usually susceptible to vancomycin intermediate resistance frequently and quickly which makes it difficult to deal with the disease properly. The spread of MRSA is usually a common phenomenon in hospitals and is commonly contracted by individuals with septic lesions and are admitted in hospitals where they acquire the bacterial infection (Solberg, 2000). Other major sources of staphylococcus aureus in healthcare environments usually involve carried sites in patients and other individuals that frequently use the area. Some of the most consistent sites include the anterior nares and perineal areas. Nasal and perineal carriers most commonly experience skin contamination and aerial transmission. The main method of transmission is usually due to lack of basic hygiene such as contact with unwashed hands. Therefore the best method of preventing the transmission of the disease has involved the use of disinfectants when washing hands to keep from possible carriage. Some of the strategies that have been adopted in healthcare centers have involved the isolation and the screening of new patients (Solberg, 2000). In addition, patients who are suspected to have contracted MRSA with intermediate vancomycin resistance disease they are usually kept aside from the ones not infected. Other methods that should be adopted include hospital wide implementations such as a program for infection controls. Additionally, the hospital may establish antibiotic policies that work to prevent development of resistance (Bischoff, 2007). It is important to implement active preventative action against spreading of MRSA. References Bischoff, W. E., Tucker, B. K., Wallis, M. L., Reboussin, B. A., Pfaller, M. A., Hayden, F. G., Sherertz, R. J. (2007). Preventing the airborne spread of Staphylococcus aureus by persons with the common cold: effect of surgical scrubs, gowns, and masks. Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, 28(10), 1148-1154. KONG, K. F., Schneper, L., Mathee, K. (2010). Beta?lactam antibiotics: from antibiosis to resistance and bacteriology. Apmis, 118(1), 1-36. Kohanski, M. A., Dwyer, D. J., Collins, J. J. (2010). How antibiotics kill bacteria: from targets to networks. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 8(6), 423-435. Solberg, C. O. (2000). Spread of Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals: causes and prevention. Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases, 32(6), 587-595.