Author Question: A nursing student wants to know the differences between hospital-associated methicillin-resistant ... (Read 29 times)

Cooldude101 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A nursing student wants to know the differences between hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) and community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).

Which statements about CA-MRSA are true? (Select all that apply.)
a. Twenty percent to 30 of the general population are colonized with CA-MRSA.
b. Boils caused by CA-MRSA can be treated without antibiotics.
c. CA-MRSA is less dangerous than HA-MRSA.
d. CA-MRSA does not cause necrotizing fasciitis.
e. CA-MRSA is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Question 2

A patient is about to receive penicillin G for an infection that is highly sensitive to this drug.

While obtaining the patient's medication history, the nurse learns that the patient experienced a rash when given amoxicillin (Amoxil) as a child 20 years earlier. What will the nurse do?
a. Ask the provider to order a cephalosporin.
b. Reassure the patient that allergic responses diminish over time.
c. Request an order for a skin test to assess the current risk.
d. Suggest using a desensitization schedule to administer the drug.

jojobee318 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, C
CA-MRSA is thought to be present in 20 to 30 of the population, and many of these individuals are asymptomatic carriers. Boils caused by CA-MRSA can often be treated by surgical drainage alone. CA-MRSA is less dangerous than HA-MRSA but more dangerous than methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). CA-MRSA generally causes mild skin infections but can cause more serious infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis. CA-MRSA is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact and by contact with contaminated objects.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Allergy to penicillin can decrease over time; therefore, in patients with a previous allergic reaction who need to take penicillin, skin tests can be performed to assess the current risk. Until this risk is known, changing to a cephalosporin is not necessary. Reassuring the patient that allergic responses will diminish is not correct, because this is not always the case; the occurrence of a reaction must be confirmed with skin tests. Desensitizing schedules are used when patients are known to be allergic and the drug is required anyway.