The End Of Antibiotics: Can We 'Eskape' It?

Course overview

The vast majority of the annual 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections and 99,000 deaths reported in 2002 were due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. As a group, these difficult to treat, multidrug resistant pathogens have become known as ESKAPE pathogens ¿ given that they currently cause more than two-thirds of all hospital-acquired infections and effectively ¿escape¿ the biocidal effects of most or all available drugs. This module provides an overview of the most troublesome antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals. It will discuss the increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria throughout healthcare and the community and offer strategies for reducing the spread of resistance. Nurses and PTs can help improve the U.S. record by knowing if their patient is infected with a drug-resistant pathogen and by ensuring that everyone who has contact with their patient adheres to appropriate infection control practices.