Nurses' Role In Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance

Course overview

Antimicrobial resistance is a challenging, frustrating problem for health care providers, patients and the community. Unfortunately, a patient who has developed resistance to a certain antibiotic and/or a class of antibiotics may develop further complications or die. It is important that nurses understand their role to prevent patients from becoming resistant to antimicrobial agents, especially antibiotics that may potentially save their lives. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Define and distinguish between antimicrobial terms; 2. Understand each type of antimicrobial drug resistance that can occur; 3. Discuss the history and discovery of antimicrobials; 4. Compare and contrast the antimicrobial drug classes; 5. Understand the manner in which antimicrobial therapy can be managed successfully; 6. List each of the hospital-acquired antimicrobial drug resistances that can occur (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and extended spectrum beta lactams); 7. Compare and contrast the respiratory antimicrobial resistance noted in the hospital and community (streptococcus pneumonia, tuberculosis and pseudomonas aeruginosa); 8. Discuss the most common sexually transmitted infection resistance (N. gonorrhoeae); 9. Understand the antimicrobial resistance noted in clostridium difficile; 10. Differentiate the antimicrobial resistance seen in viral infections (influenza, human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus and hepatitis); 11. Understand the implication of agricultural effects on antimicrobial drug resistance globally; 12. Discuss the general scope of preventing antimicrobial drug resistance; 13. Discuss and differentiate the various types of isolation; and 14. Understand the specific manner for nurses to prevent antimicrobial drug resistance.