Analysis of Current MRSA Health Promotion Pamphlet

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Introduction

Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial strain that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotic penicillin. It is also known as multidrug resistant Staph. In the hospital set up, patients who make use of invasive devices, have compromised immune system, and have open wound have greater chances of getting infected with MRSA. Staphs are commonly found in the nostrils, open wounds, human respiratory tract, and catheters inserted in the urinary tract. Thy can also be found existing asymptomatically on the human body. Initially, MRSA is normally manifested in the form of red bumps like pimples or boils accompanied by fever and rashes. As time progresses the bumps enlarge and get filled with pus (Graham and Larson, 2006). Community associated MRSA infections are found on skin and soft tissues.

CA-MRSA can effectively be treated. CA-MRSA can be virulent; hence their rapid spread and associated severe illnesses. The virulent CA-MRSA affects body important organs leading to widespread infections. All these come about due to the presence of toxins like PVL and PSM that CA-MRSA carry. Interestingly, some healthy people do develop CA-MRSA skin infections that can be treated while others suffering from infections by same strain succumb to such infections. The population at risk of catching MRSA include people whom their immune system has been compromised by HIV/AIDS infections, cancer, and asthma, people suffering from both type I and type II diabetes, the elderly, children, people using quinolone antibiotics, people who spend protracted period of time in a health care facility, and those who inject themselves intravenously. This research paper seeks to critically analyze current health promotion pamphlet on MRSA.

Layout appeal

The main contextual font that was chosen is easy to read. The font chosen-ITC Officina sans Book is appropriate for the pamphlet because of its aesthetically appealing appearance. Different fonts were also selected for the running head and the chapter titles. This brought accent to the appearance of the pamphlet. This serves to increase appeal that guarantees sale of the book owing to the professional appearance. The text also seems to have been laid out with an established program that was specifically designed for typesetting. Characters were properly spaced to meet the professional standards. The pamphlet is in PDF format. This enables professional printers to preview the quality of the print out. There is no typing error in the layout of the pamphlet, a suggestion that proofreading was properly done before final printing. A picture has been used in the front cover to illustrate what Methicilin resistant staphs are all about. This gives a reader an insight into what he or she is likely to encounter while reading the pamphlet. The cover of the publication bears the names of organizations that took part in writing of the pamphlet.

Content and quality

Before a reader engages in anything relating to the content of the pamphlet, their attention is brought to basic issues that relate to MRS like hand washing, eating right, exercising, quitting smoke, leading stress free life, taking proper care of the skin, the need for covering skin infections to curtail the spread of MRSA to other people, and the need for consulting health care provider to get enlightened about your concerns and questions (DeYoung, 2009). The book starts by explaining what MRSA is and how serious it is. The MRSA pamphlet starts by saying that Staphs are found mostly in the nose and on the skin. In such state, they exist as normal microbial flora (State Department of HEALTH, 2009). However, if these microbes get access to the body system from cuts on the body an infection can arise. MRSA infections range from mild to serious according to the pamphlet. The pamphlet traces development of resistance to the antibiotics that were used to treat Staph infection to improper use of drugs by patients. The pamphlet describes how MRSA infections look like. These include fluid filled blisters otherwise known as impetigo, sores resembling spider bites, abseces, and incase of a cut, the injured point becomes hot and filled with pus. Other body organs like the eyes, the lungs, blood and urine may also have MRSA.

The pamphlet however focuses on skin infections caused by MRSA (Billings and Halstead, 2009). The pamphlet also gives guidelines on how to stop the spread of MRSA from a carrier to the healthy population. These guidelines included following personal care guidelines, disinfection of equipment that one uses in the gym, showering with soap before and after using public sauna, hot tub or pool, taking shower immediately after taking part in sports or doing work out in the gym, and showering before any intimate body contact with other person. Taking shower helps in reducing the load of bacteria on skin hence in risk of spread to other people. The pamphlet directs that people with MRSA can still interact with children as long as the children are prevented from getting into contact with infection. Such people have to wash their hands clean. If a child in the family has MRSA, they ought to be enlightened on the infection hence reduce the risk of spread to other children. The pamphlet suggests that animals like dogs and cats can also get infected with MRSA. These organisms can either be carriers or thy can as well have an active infection. Therefore, any skin infection on these organisms should be reported to the vet. The pamphlet also outlines issues that have to be adhered to check the spread of MRSA from individuals with active infections and how somebody can get MRSA. Two ways of developing MRSA have been outlined these being having active infection and being a career (Kelly and Fitzsimmons, 2000). A number of questions relating to MRSA have been answered by the pamphlet. These related to the possibility of having attest for MRSA, how contagious a person with MRSA can be, and whether a person can always have MRSA. It also outlines personal guidelines and treatment of MRSA.

Reading level

The pamphlet has been written in English that can easily be understood. Some clarifications have been done using pictures that help the reader develop a deeper understanding of the concepts being talked about. The question and answer approach also saves the reader the agony of reading and extracting points from the pamphlet.

Clarity

The information contained in the pamphlet is clear and has no element of vagueness. Each issue is discretely tackled without ambiguity.

Examples

Where examples are to be given, the pamphlet gives illustrations using diagrams.

Usefulness

The pamphlet extensively works on the symptoms MRSA exhibit, how it spreads, how it can be treated, and how it can be prevented. It does not however outline the types of antibiotics that MRSA is resistant to.

Cultural sensitivity and competence

Some care guideline like frequent hand washing, carrying alcohol based gel wherever you walk to sanitize your hands may lead to stigmatization especially by people who follow your acts closely.

Helpful hints or tips for self-care management

The guidelines that the pamphlet gives are a sure way for preventing the spread of MRSA and controlling it.

Appropriate literacy level for target audience

The pamphlet is meant for general reading as it does not involve the use of technical terminologies that may hinder the laymans understanding.

Publisher

They are Group Health Cooperative, Pierce County Health Department, and Washington State department of Health.

Reference List

Billings, D.M., and Halstead, J.A. (2009). Teaching in Nursing: A Guide for Faculty, St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.

DeYoung, S. (2009). Teaching strategies for nurse educators, (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: NJ Prentice Hall.

Graham, P., Lin, S., Larson, E. (2006). A U.S. population-based survey of Staphylococcus aureus colonization. Ann Intern Med, 144 (5), 31825.

Kelley, M. L, & Fitzsimmons, V.M. (Eds.). (2000). Understanding cultural diversity: Culture, curriculum, and community in nursing. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

State Department of Health. (2006). Living with MRSA. Washington: Department of Health.

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