The answers to 'Bacteria and Resistance - What is MRSA?'

No matter what doctors did, the baby's oxygen levels were dropping as drug resistant bacteria were eating holes in the lungs of the 7 week old. Even the most powerful antibiotics could not stop the infection. Just two days ago, Madeline had started coughing. Then Madeline's mother found her limp and blue in her crib and she was rushed to the hospital. She was diagnosed with pneumonia caused by bacteria. It was MRSA.

The methicillin resistant form of the bacterium commonly known as “staph” was first identified in the 1970's in hospitals, but it has since spread across the world, showing up in daycares and schools. The bacterium can sometimes "colonize" a person and not cause illness. The person can carry it on their bodies for years and pass them to other people or leave them on surfaces.

Madeline's parents wondered how she had contracted this dangerous bacterium. Madeline's family agreed to tests to determine if any of them were carrying the deadly bacteria or if the child contracted the bacteria from the hospital.
In the past, penicillin was used to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections, but the bacteria had become resistant to penicillin. During the 1950s, other antibiotics, like methicillin, were discovered that could treat Staphylococcus. The graph below shows the spread of antibiotic­ resistant infections. Separate curves are shown for infections from the hospital ("Hospital­ Acquired") and Community ­Acquired.

1. Based on the graph, when did 80% of hospital acquired bacteria become penicillin resistant? 1960__
   When did 80% of community acquired bacteria become penicillin resistant? 1980

2. In 2005, what percentage of hospital acquired bacteria were resistant to methicillin? 60%_
   What percentage of community acquired bacteria were resistant to methicillin? 60%_

3. Based on the trends seen in the graph, what would you expect to happen to the effectiveness of methicillin to both types (community and hospital) of bacteria? __That is antibiotic resistant infections will continue to spread.___

4. Propose a reason for why community acquired resistant bacteria lags behind hospital acquired: Bacteria originated from the hospital so it is more likely that the community will have less of the bacteria. ____________________________________________________________________________________
   Part 2: MRSA Screening
   A methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screen is a test that looks for the presence of MRSA. On a community level, screening may be used to help determine the source of an outbreak. Sources may include specific rooms in a hospital or school, or individuals who may be carrying the bacteria on their skin. Once a source is identified, the area can be cleaned thoroughly with antiseptics, or a person can be treated with antibiotics.
   A nasal swab is collected from the nostrils of an asymptomatic person and cultured. The sample is put onto a special nutrient medium called agar. The sample is incubated in a warm area so that bacteria can grow. The sample is then examined for the growth of characteristic MRSA colonies.
   When studying how bacteria respond to antibiotics, the Kirby­Bauer disk method is used. In this technique, discs containing antibiotics are placed on agar where bacteria are growing, and the antibiotics diffuse out into the agar.
   If an antibiotic stops the bacteria from growing, we can see circular areas around the disks where bacteria have not grown. This area is called the "zone of inhibition." The diameter of these zones is measured as shown below.

5. Bacteria are grown on what medium? a special nutrient medium called agar.__

6. The area near the antibiotic disk where no bacteria grows is called the Zone of Inhibition

7. Why is it important to determine the source of an outbreak? To we don’t die from the outbreak of diseases or illnesses

8. Once the source is identified, what is the next step? figure out what antibiotic will kill the bacteria_

9. What is the difference between an antibiotic and an antiseptic?
   Antispetics are sanitizers and antibiotics are used to resist bacteria__

   10. Examine the image above. Which of the bacteria (A, B, or C) is resistant to the antibiotic? C__

Part 3: Analyzing the Plates

Each plate below represents a sample taken in the investigation into where Madeline became infected. . Nasal swabs were taken from individual family members and two samples were taken from the hospital delivery room. The samples were grown on agar with antibiotic disks added.
PE = penicillin | ME = methicillin | CE = cephalothin | VA = vancomycin

11. Measure the zones of inhibition with a ruler and record the data in the table. Measure in millimeters.

Part 4: Conclusions 12. The following table identifies the sample sources. Which samples contain MRSA?.

[i dont feel like putting another table. sorry ]

Sample 1
Madeline's Mother
no
Sample 2
Madeline's Sister
no
Sample 3
Madeline's Father
no
Sample 4
Delivery Room Surface
yes

13. Sample 1 was taken from a nasal swab of a family member who has been having sinus infections.

What antibiotic would be most successful for treating the infection? Penicillin___
What antibiotic would be most successful for treating Madeline’s sister? Vacomycin__________

13. Based on the data, where did Madeline contract her infection? Explain how you know.

She contracted it from the Delivery Room surface, this is becauseThe MRSA is the most resistant because there is a lot of bacterial growth

15. What antibiotic would be most effective for Madeline’s infection? Explain your choice.

Penicillin, this is because its has a greater zone of inhibition

16. What recommendations would you make to Madeline's family and the hospital where Madeline was delivered. Your recommendations should include evidence­ based reasoning and details from the case to support your position.

I would recommend giving Madeleine the penicillin because it is the most resistant to bacterial growth which would help fight the bacteria she contracted. The hospital also needs to use more antiseptics to try and prevent this from happening.