Staph Infection

Term Paper # 100553

Literature
Medical and Health
Medical and Health > Public Health Issues

Staph Infection

An overview of the information provided by Hawaii Health Guide.com regarding staph infection.

1,559 words () | 7 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how information supplied by web sites and other informal sources may not necessarily provide adequate or even reliable treatment of disease and its prevention. In particular, it looks at how the information provided by Hawaii Health Guide.com (2006), contains omissions and leads to many questions. That information is critically assessed in light of what scholarly journals provide on the topic of staph infections caused by staphylococcus aureus. This paper also discusses effects of s. aureau bacteria beyond infections, how staph becomes resistant to antibiotics and how science is attempting to overcome antibiotic resistance. Prevention and treatment is also discussed.

From the Paper:

"According to the Hawaii Health Guide.com (2006), staph infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are potentially in every aspect of the environment but occur when the skin is broken or punctured. Most importantly, according to the article, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria thrive in Hawaii's sultry summer heat. The article also notes that the risk of infection is highest in hospitals because of open wounds and tubes, as well as in other institutions such as nursing homes where people tend to have poor health. In fact, resistant staph is most prevalent among the homeless, in prisons, and in other populations of high density. The common features of such institutions are compromised or lack of hygiene."

Sample of Sources Used:

Cole, A., S. Tahk, A. Oren, D. Yoshioka, Y. Kim & Ganz, A. (2001). Determinants of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage. Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 8 (6), 1064-1069.
Dar, J., M. Thoker, J. Khan, A. Ali, M. Khan, M. Rizwan, K. Bhat, M. Dar, N. Ahmed & Ahmad, S. (2006). Molecular epidemiology of clinical and carrier strains of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the hospital setting. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 5 (22), 1-13.
Guardabassi, L., S. Schwarz & Lloyd, D. (2004). Pet animals as reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 54, 321-332.
Harbarth, S., O. Rutschmann, P. Sudre & Pittet, D. (1998). Impact of Methicillin resistance on the outcome of patients with bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Archives of Internal Medicine, 158, 182-189.
Layer, F., B. Ghebremedhin, W. Konig & Konig, B. (2006). Heterogeneity of methicilin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains at a German university hospital implicates the circulating-strain pool as a potential source of emerging methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 44 (6), 2179-2185.