Esbls Prevention and Education Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Essay

ESBLs Prevention and Education

Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers (ESBLs) are antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can colonize internally before spreading and/or present as infections that are very difficult to treat du to the protective nature of the ESBL substance itself (AHS, n.d.; CARA, n.d.). ESBL is capable of breaking down antibiotics and thus protecting the producing bacteria, allowing them to continue to thrive and reproduce despite the administering of traditional treatments. For this reason, prevention of such infections is of paramount importance, yet practices that effectively work towards such prevention are not as widespread as would be desirable (AHS, n.d.; Durham, 2006). The following education plan aims to address identified knowledge needs and so reduce rates of ESBLs infections and their negative effects on patient outcomes.

Knowledge Needs Assessment

Though the nursing staff examined for this education project is well qualified and highly educated, there is a definite lack of knowledge regarding ESBLs. All members of the nursing staff were aware of antibiotic-resistant infections and their problems, and nurses are also aware of certain basic hygiene steps that can generally prevent the spread of infection. Only one nurse was familiar with the term ESBL, however, and this individual was unable to recommend any specific steps that could be taken to prevent the spread of such infections.There is therefore a clear need to address the fundamental elements and mechanisms of ESBLs infections and to reiterate the proper hygiene and disinfectant procedures necessary to limit the spread of infections in healthcare institutions.

Plan

The educational instruments for use in this project will take the form of a pamphlet created by the author with the express purpose of addressing the knowledge gaps identified above. A definition and description of ESBLs and how it functions will be provided, with appropriate reference to relevant and trustworthy literature, so as to provide a basic foundation of understanding both why certain prevention techniques are effective (and why others are less so), and the importance of implementing these techniques and working to prevent ESBLs infections (Halton, n.d.). The hygiene and disinfectant techniques advocated by certain groups and in other literature will also be provided; though this information is largely a reiteration of what should be standard policy for nursing staff and….....