Re-Using Medical Equipment

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Re-using Medical Equipment The following diseases are known to be ones that can cause different types of infections in a healthcare setting: 1. Klebsiella pneumonia is a gram negative bacterium that is normally found in the intestines, where it does not cause disease. It is also found in the stool. In a healthcare setting, however, it can cause infections such as pneumonia, wound or surgical site infections, blood stream infections or sepsis, and meningitis. Klebsiella is mostly spread through person to person contact with contaminated hands. In the hospital transmission could be through a catheter or ventilator. Klebsiella can be treated with antibiotics, however research has shown that this bacterium is developing a resistance to the antibiotic carbapenems, which is usually an antibiotic of last resort. This is of great concern to physicians and researchers because currently there are no new antibiotics in development to combat bacteria that are resistant to carbapenems. Careful attention to infection control procedures can help reduce the risk of transmission of Klebsiella. 2. Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. It causes nausea, fever, aches, chills and acute, severe vomiting and diarrhea. People who are healthy usually recover quickly; however, people who are elderly or people with other medical illnesses are most at risk for a more severe, prolonged infection. There is no specific treatment for Norovirus because it is a virus, and therefore does not respond to antibiotics. It is important to be sure the patient gets enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Noroviruses are found in the feces and vomit of infected people and can spread very quickly in schools, daycares and medical facilities. It is spread through person to person contact, eating food or

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