Essays on Pneumonia

Podolsky, S. H. (2005). The Changing Fate of Pneumonia as a Public Health Concern in 20th-Century America and Beyond. American Journal of Public Health, 95(12): 2144-2154. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.048397.

The article proposes the essence of understanding the history of pneumonia. The article covers historical data from the emerging awareness of the disease in 1930 to the 20th century. Within this timeline Podolsky illustrates the significance of vaccine, control programs and reeducation of physicians. The author also provides insights on how penicillin and sulfonamides affected control programs. As control programs regressed government concerns also become devoid. As a consequence, ...

According to Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, there has been a prediction by the federal government claiming that there is to be an expected increase in the number of hospital nursing vacancies by nearly 29% which is approximately 800,000 by the year 2020, this will not be filled by slow increase in the number of nurses as their rate of increase will only be a mere 6%.

As it had been noted that higher level of nursing staff will increase both nurse satisfaction and higher quality health care, this cannot be ...

Ventilator Assisted Pneumonia

Ventilator Assisted Pneumonia

- O'Keefe-McCarthy, S., Santiago, C., & Lau, G. (2008). Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Bundled Strategies: An Evidence-Based Practice. Worldviews On Evidence-Based Nursing, 5(4), 193-204. doi:10.1111/j.1741-6787.2008.00140.xSummary of Article: In an effort to create care practices and a ventilator bundle to reduce ventilator-induced pneumonia, the study started with a compliance audit by quality control to determine baseline information. - Research Elements: The design included education of staff, placement of reminder signage, and collecting data from the period of October 2008 to December 2009. The quality department conducted compliance audits. Specific objectives were determined, striving for 100% compliance and reduction of ...

About five years ago, I had an unpleasant experience while driving with my friends. We got in a car and drove all over the city. At one point, while I was sitting in the back seat, a friend who was driving caused an accident. Fortunately, nobody was injured. However, I got very scared and couldn’t calm down for a while. Soon after that a friend offered to drive me home and I had to sit in the back. When I entered the car, I felt enormous fear. This can be explained by classical conditioning. In fact, this is ...

1. Components and mechanisms of the respiratory system The respiratory system is the system that allow humans and animals to breathe. The main function of the system is to provide oxygen to the body through the blood. Breathing involves two main actions: inhaling and exhaling air. Inhalation brings oxygen into the body via the blood and exhalation chases out carbon dioxide. The respiratory system is composed of different tissues and organs, including the airways, lungs, bloods vessels and muscles connected to each other to assure a proper breathing process (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2012). The airways include ...

Of principal concern is the prevention and control of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) by medical practitioners in intensive care units (ICUs). VAP is one of the most frequently reported infections acquired by patients under mechanical ventilation healthcare. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) persists to be a frequent and potentially deadly complication of ventilator care (Chulay, 2005), often occurring within environments characteristic of the intensive care unit (ICU) that are high-tech and high touch. Patients who are ventilated and intubated present the unique challenge for critical care registered nurses (RNs) to incorporate evidence-informed practices concerning the delivery of high-quality care (Crunden, 2005). Ventilator-Associated ...

Abstract

This paper briefly discusses the pathophysiology of pneumonia due to infection of mucor, laboratory indicators of pneumonia infections, and its possible treatments. Initially, the paper defines mucor and explains how it gains entry into the human body. Laboratory test results of a case study are also analyzed. Factors that increase one’s chances of being infected with mucor and those that predispose one to pneumonia have also been stated. Mucor is a genus belonging to phylum zygomycota and kingdom fungi. According to Pitt and Hocking (2009), at least 20 species of mucor have been reported in food. Mucor infection ...

Nursing home pneumonia has been identified as a Healthcare-Acquired Pneumonia (HCAP); the disease is caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae (Evelyn, 2002). The research aimed at analyzing different characteristics of the disease; the main areas that the research focused on were causes of pneumonia and then treatment plan. The article in the web discussed the guidelines for treatment of the disease. The disease is caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Aureus, and Enteric Gram-Negative pathogens (Myolette, 2002). The disease affects a person whose body cannot resist these pathogens; the part of the body associated with the disease is the respiratory system that is ...

Article #1. Martins, S.R.M., & De Oliveira, D.S.F. (2014). This article discusses the results of a two-stage speech therapy tests performed on the elderly, 45 in all and between the ages of 60 and 85 years old. The speech therapies resulted in improvements in 73% of subjects with dysphagia, and voice improvements on 62% after 11.6 sessions (Martins & Oliveira, 2014, p. 1120). Although the article makes no mention on the morbidity and mortality rates of dysphagia and dysphonia, it nevertheless affirms that “neurological diseases are common in the elderly” (Martins & Oliveira, 2014, p. 1120). In this respect, it can be ...

Article #1: Becker, R., et al. (2011). “Functional dysphagia therapy and PEG treatment in a clinical geriatric setting.” Dysphagia, 26, 108-116. 1). Summary: The article by Becker et al. delves on the outcomes of two Functional Dysphagia Therapy (FDT) with one group using percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and another group of non-PEG users. 2) Element: The victims of stroke and those with cerebrovascular diseases have neurogenic dysphagia, 50% and 30% respectively. The result of this study revealed a mortality rate of 19.7%, and lower for the second group of non-PEG users which is at 8.6%. 3) Outcome: Those in ...

Background information

According to the United Nations, homelessness has become “an increasing social and public health problem worldwide”. There are various states of homelessness. Absolute homelessness refers to “conditions of persons without physical shelter”. Relative homelessness refers to a state in which one has some form of physical shelter but the shelter does not meet the required health and safety standards. For instance, it has poor sanitation and access to water is limited or non-existent. Estimates reveal that over 100 million individuals are homeless worldwide. In the United States of America, the US Department of Housing ...

Customer Inserts His/ Her Name

Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name (28.1.2012)

a) Among the major signs of pneumonia are persistent coughs with sputum, fever and chest pains during inhalation, shortness of breath and headaches (Schiffman, 2012). In the case provided, Evelyn had the exact signs and symptoms as the ones that cause pneumonia and is therefore, suffering from pneumonia. b) The history of the patient in the case study and the tests done indicate that the pneumonia Evelyn is suffering from is viral pneumonia. The history of the disease, over a month of experiencing symptoms of fever, headache and persistent cough indicate the patient ...

Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), defined as pneumonia that was absent or not developing at intubation, is the second most common hospital acquired infection (Bahrt, 2009, p. 49). It is the most prevalent hospital acquired infection amongst mechanically ventilated patients in critical care units with an estimated 10-20% incidence rate in some hospitals. It affects approximately 28% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 hours (Button, Culmer, Southard, & Donaldosn, 2005). Patients on mechanical ventilation for >24 hours are 6 to 21 times more likely to acquire VAP than patients not on ventilator support. VAP is the most ...

Preventing Ventilator-associated pneumonia

P __Population/patient = Critical care patients on ventilators I __ Intervention/indicator = increased frequency of hand washing and strict disinfection as measures to prevent the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critical care patients. C__Comparator/control = Critical care patients in whom this intervention is not performed. O __Outcome = Ventilator associated pneumonia is prevented in critical care patients.

T__Time of discharge

In line with the PICO format, the PICO question would be, "how does increased frequency of hand washing and disinfection affect the development of ventilator assisted pneumonia in critical care patients?" In carrying out this research, I have identified an issue which is the issue of ...

Quantitative Article Critique

Methods, Results, Data Analysis and Findings The quantitative research article chosen to be discussed was entitled Predictive Values of Semi-Quantitative Pro-Calcitonin Test and Common Biomarkers for the Clinical Outcomes of Community-Acquired Pneumonia. The respondent population was mainly composed of people who have been hospitalized as a result of having been diagnosed with Community Acquired Pneumonia between August 2010 and October 2012 using the semi-quantitative serum PCT Test. The objective of the research was to determine whether there is an existing relationship between the semi-quantitative serum pro-calcitonin (PCT) test (BRAHMS PCT-Q) and the clinical outcomes of patients with community acquired ...

Ventilator Assisted Pneumonia

Ventilator Assisted Pneumonia

Implementation Plan

The Policy and Procedure Committee of St. Mary’s Hospital was presented with a literature review and presentation suggesting a policy change; the change regarded care of ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit. The change promoted addressed incorporating oral hygiene measures in an effort to reduce ventilator assisted pneumonia (VAP) in the patients. The use of manual cleaning with chlorhexidine swabs or brush in conjunction with suctioning enhances the removal of bacteria from the buccal cavity. The presence of the bacteria encourages development of VAP. The Committee requested an implementation plan for further evaluation of ...

Studies show that stroke survivors with poor oral hygiene have a poor quality of life (Armstrong and Mosher 2011). (Lam et al. 2014) have explored the effect of clinical oral health and socio-demographic factors on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients following stroke. Oral health-related quality of life results were received before and after provision or oral health promotion interventions. Eighty-one patients faced a stroke rehabilitation ward. OHRQoL have also determined the outcomes after in-hospital oral health intervention programme. They observed a significant association between the absence of regular daily brushing and majority of measurement scale items ( ...

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the repeated blockage of upper airway when a person is asleep. It is the most common type of apnea during which the diaphragm and chest muscles open the obstructed airways and pull air into the lungs. This loss of breath reduces the flow of oxygen to vital organs causing irregular heartbeat (Force & American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2009). A person usually snores loudly at night with interruption by a silent period when they are not breathing, they wake up not refreshed in the morning, headaches that are hard to treat, feel sleepy or drowsy ...

Introduction:

The bacterial negative gram bacilli group Enterobacterriaceae have both motile and non-mitole relationships with peritrichouse flagella. Both types of bacteria, however, have the ability to fermet glucose and get nitrite from nitrates, as well as produce gas. They are a common find in greenhouses, and there are hundreds of species of this microorganism, including Proteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella Enterobacter, pneomoniae, etc. The pathogenic types of this bacteria have the ability to bring about diseases in animals and humans.

In this test, two varying types of Enterobacteriaceae will be identified (Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli. This will be ...

Designing an approach to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.

Candace Moore No University Affiliation Nursing Introduction: Ethiopia is highly affected by communicable diseases like many countries less economically developed countries. These diseases accounted for over 60% of total death and 63% of DALYs in Ethiopia 2010. Out of these communicable diseases lower respiratory infections play a major role in the mortality and morbidity of the people. These diseases contribute about 14 % and almost 11% of towards all communicable death and DALYs respectively ((( Source from summative assignment))). The risk of developing acute lower respiratory infection was found to be very high in children under the age of five. Out ...

Abstract

The topic of this paper is regarding the effects of the nursing shortage on patient safety and adverse events. Due to the nursing shortage, there is an increase inare registered more patient adverse events and there is increasedthe risk to the patient’s safety increased. If the nursing shortage problem is not correctedsolved, then there will be a continuance ofcontinue increase in the risk to patient safety risk , andas well as harm to the patient. In the paper there is provided Aan explanation of the nursing shortage, the its cause of the shortage, how the shortageit affects patient safety, ...

Abstract

Early ambulation is now recognised as an intervention that confers many positive benefits to patients following cardiac surgery. However, there is lack of clarity as to the optimum time for the patient to perform early ambulation. A focused question was developed to ascertain whether early ambulation within 24 hours after extubation is more effective compared to ambulation 24 hours or more following extubation. The clinical question guided the search and retrieval of 6 studies that were subsequently appraised. There are benefits and many limitations of the chosen studies and do not provide sufficient evidence to answer the clinical question ...

It has been found that “compliance with evidence based practice in the form of a care bundle can reduce the incidence of VAP” (Ellis et al.) or ventilator associated pneumonia.

One example of a protocol is that which was developed by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement or ICSI (Weinert). This protocol covers the “orders around patient care management for the prevention of” (Weinert) VAP.

Protocols are associated with bundles, which the Institute for Healthcare Improvement or IHI defines as “a grouping of best practices that, when used individually, are found to be effective” (Wip and Napolitano). Both the ...

Legionella is one of the conditions that for a long time has been researched on. Several authors and researchers have come up with their views concerning this condition and present their views in books, journals, and even websites. In the annotated bibliography below, a clear indication of the contribution of each author is given. The relevance of the reference is also shown, giving readers the reason why they should take the references. Annotated bibliography Bartram, J., Chartier, Y., Lee, J. V., Pond, K., & Surman Lee, S. (Eds.). (n.d.). Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis. ( ...

In the early 1980s, following confirmed reports of an outbreak of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among homosexual men in several states in the U.S, several studies were conducted to identify the risk factors associated with the disease(s), related trends and other associated issues. From these studies and CDC reports on the disease, several issues and trends emerged . Among the trends and the issues identified in the said studies and reports is that the prevalence of the disease was higher in homosexual men.

Some lifestyle aspects, common among the infected patients, were linked to the ...

Abstract

The acute respiratory distress syndrome is a form of injury to the lungs that impedes the supply and uptake of oxygen from the alveoli resulting in a state of severe hypoxemia, dyspnea, anxiety, and tachypnea. This review has established that genetics may be playing a role in increasing one’s susceptibility to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS. Moreover, biomarkers would also play a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. However, it still remains unclear on the type of genes and biomarkers that play a role in causing ARDS. It has also been established that young ...

The qualitative research selected was a study titled: Pneumonia Care and the Nursing home: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Resident and Family Member Perspectives (Carusone, Loeb and Lohfeld, 2006).

Problem Statement

The clinical problem that led to the study is the increasing need for long-term healthcare in healthcare establishments due to the increase in population and change in social values. Apparently, a significant part of the population within the age of 65 and above are increasingly requiring hospitalized care for various health related complications associated with old age. Patients requiring this kind of service have been found to prefer receiving the ...

Introduction

Legionnaires’ disease was first recognized in 1976 following its breakout in a hotel in Philadelphia housing delegates who had attended American Legion convention (Lynch, Brightman, & Greenberg, 1994). Its causative agent is a bacterium known as Legionella pneumophila (Lynch, Brightman, & Greenberg, 1994). This disease presents with symptoms similar to those associated with pneumonia. Legionella pneumophila also cause another disease known as Pontiac fever (PF). Pontiac fever and Legionnaires’ disease are collectively referred to as legionellosis. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), crude national incidence rate of legionellosis in the United States increased by 192% from 2000 to ...

1.0 Background Information on SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emerged febrile lower respiratory viral disease that has been described in Asia, Europe, North America and recently Middle East. The disease was first reported in Asia, specifically in Guangdong Province of Southern China, in late 2002. It then spread to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Canada, the U.K, U.S and Slovenia at an unprecedented rate, so that in a period of weeks it had spread to 37 countries and was thus a pandemic of global concern in 2003. SARS is reported to be the ...

X-ray Reading

X-ray Reading Figure 1 The patient in this x-ray image is centred with both lungs apices. The image has also captured the costophrenic angles but some of the bones are invisible in the picture. The reason some of the bone structures are invisible is because of poor reproduction. Additionally, the medial ends of clavicle are invincible thus it is impossible to assess rotation using this image. Another observation is that the trachea is patent and deviated to the right. The image also shows that the heart is deviated to the right. The heart of the patient has a normal ...

Asthma is a chronic airway disease that is difficult to manage because of numerous risk factors and complicated by poor self-management. This is a case study of acute severe asthma triggered by viral respiratory infection and exercise in an Aboriginal female with chronic asthma. The discussion will include the diagnostic tests, patient assessment, care and interventions, medications, and nursing care performed or should have been performed. The expected outcomes will also be described.

An arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis was performed showing respiratory acidosis and mild hypoxaemia. Above normal PaCO2 and below normal pH meant the lungs could not ...

Antimicrobial agents can be categorized as antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, or antiviral agents because each group is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, fungus, parasites or viruses. Further classifications within those categories are used to differentiate between agents effective against specific pathogens. For example, aminoglycosides are primarily used to treat gram-negative infections while antianaerobic agents are used to cure infections caused by gram-positive bacteria and anaerobic infections (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). Viral and bacterial infections are different, but the differences between them are not always obvious. As a general rule, bacterial infections usually manifest as strep throat, urinary tract infections, ...

John Hopkins School of Medicine (1995) describes conducting airways as those consisting of the oro-and nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, main bronchi, lobar bronchi, divisions of bronchi and bronchioles. However, the alveoli, alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchioles are involved in the gaseous exchange with the pulmonary capillary.

Community-acquired pneumonia is caught in the public areas such as schools. It is caused by the virus, bacteria and fungi (John Hopskins School of Medicine, 1995). Hospital-acquired pneumonia may be acquired in hospital and in most cases at the intensive care unit.

Reactivated tuberculosis occurs due to reactivation that takes place within the old lesions or progression from primary into chronic form.

Small-cell lung cancer disease involves formation of cancerous cells in lung tissues ...

Why Pneumococcal Infections is a Global Health Problem

Pneumococcal infections are mainly caused by streptococcus pneumoniae also known as pneumococcus. Serious pneumococcal infections are a major global health problem. By the year 2010, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.6 million people – including more than 800,000 children under the age of 5 years – die every year from pneumococcal infections (Georgiev, 2009). Nearly all of these infections and deaths occur in the world’s poorest countries. These include Sub-Saharan African countries, Latin America, South Asia, some parts of Europe and Australia. In Latin America, epidemiological studies show ...

Abstract

The paper discusses the life of Alphonse Gabriel Capone a famous and powerful crime mob operating in Chicago. His nicknames were Al Capone or Scarface his influence began in 1925 after the demise of his mentor James Torrio. He gained power through selling of illegal liquor and from there he ventured into other operations like prostitution, gambling, and racketeering to expand his influence. He also bribed politicians and legal authorities to enable him carry out operations without legal interference. ...

Application of the Natural Law Theory in the Management of a Case in Relation with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care

Introduction

Natural laws are principles with reasons used to examine the human nature and are set by the natural world. These natural laws in most cases use justification to examine the nature of humans and try to explain morality and ethics basing on the religious perspective. Additionally, natural laws often are joined with common laws and norms of the societies but in most cases these natural laws contend that specific rights and ...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious disease caused by SARS corona virus (SARS-CoV). It is a dangerous, not well understood, and easy to transmit disease. Its most dangerous features are that SARS outbreaks occur within the hospital setting, it can be deadly, and has no definitive set of symptoms. There is a distinct probability of another global outbreak of SARS.

On February 28, 2003, Carlo Urbani, a medical doctor working for the World Health Organization in Vietnam, examined an American patient in a French hospital in Hanoi. The patient presented with atypical pneumonia, ...

Description of the chickenpox as a communicable disease.

Chicken pox is also refers to as varicella, is a communicable disease (CDC – ACIP, 2015). Chicken pox is a viral disease and it is characterized by an itchy red rash in body which mainly begins on face then chest and eventually to the back before spreading allover the body. Herpes varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. The oozing blisters or bed linens of an infected person, or contact with the clothing, or droplets as a result of sneeze or cough are all means of spreading the chicken pox. The person infected by the virus will show the symptoms after ten to ...

Research paper

Abstract The research paper deals with correlation of asthma risk among adults in Finland as a result of infant RSV bronchiolitis and reduced respiratory health-related quality of life after RSV pneumonia. The research includes the patients participated in different kinds of clinical study such as measurement of lung function, skin prick test, doctor examination, etc. The research group stated the problem to follow up the sequelae of the respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection (RSV LRTI) from infant age with asthma, atopy, and lung function in adulthood. The researchers used several tests to give the statistics for the ...

Causative agent

Chickenpox is a disease that is highly contagious, and its causative agent is varicella zoster virus (Wood). Historical information The history of the term chicken pox that is documented as being used from 1684 is not dependably known. There have been speculations that it was derived from chickpeas, on the basis of their resemblance of vesicles to chickpeas (Belshe).

Transmission

It begins with vesicular skin rash on the head and body. It is transmitted through the air and it easily spreads via sneezing or coughing by affected persons or via direct contact with the rash’s secretions. The patient is ...

(Author)

Abstract

Unplanned extubation can be defined as the premature removal of ETT. It can be deliberate or accidental. Usually, it is caused by mechanical ventilation, which is the common process in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unplanned extubations represents fourth most common adverse event in NICUs in North America. Unplanned extubation can result in several complications such as acute cardiorespiratory deterioration, bronchospasm, hypotension, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and subglottic stenosis. Duration of intubation, short length of ETT, less common use of sedatives and muscle relaxants, and time spent out of bed in the hand of parents, i.e. movements, are some of ...

Glossary

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-COPD Air pollutants- the particles that pollute air Asthma- This is a chronic lung ailment, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Biomass-this is a biological material that is obtained from living organisms, particularly plant-based Particulate matter- this term refers to the assortment of solid particles and liquid drips found in the air Introduction Air pollution refers to the introduction of biological molecules and other dangerous materials into the globe’s atmosphere, causing diseases and eventual deaths. In addition, the damage is extended to other living organisms such as crops. Most of the diseases caused ...

Healthcare Quality Initiative Paper

For many people both in medical and non-medical world, Health care quality initiative represents a huge undertaking in developing and improving the overall quality of care. Medicare system offers a perfect avenue to enhance the quality of care offered by professionals. In explanation, Medicare is a social insurance program that caters for both the financial and wellbeing of the elderly sick and disabled persons under 65. Included in this category are individuals at the end stage of renal disease. This Medicare system program is financed chiefly by the premiums, taxes and revenue from the federal government. It is divided ...

This paper argues about the shutdown of SeaWorld; SeaWorld is a mammal theme park, located in the United States. Sea World is a theme park dedicated to the underwater world. Unlike other parks, Sea World is not divided into zones. Here each attraction has its own name and theme. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment maintains one of the largest collections of marine animals in the United States. It provides care to as many as 67,000 animals including marine and terrestrial. In the wild, marine animals live in large social groups and swim up to 100 miles a day. However, ...

METHODOLOGY

This study is intended to be conducted prospectively in a 375-bedded educational hospital facility. This study will be carried out in a 6 month period running from November 2013 to April 2014. In regard to the methodology for this study, all patients admitted during this period will be examined and included in this research for every day detection of any form of Hospital acquired infection, also referred to as nosocomial infections, which ranges from Surgical site infections (SSI), Pneumonia (PNEU), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), blood stream and Lung infections among many others (Warrell, 2003, p.17). ...

In this paper, I will compare and contrast two international funding programs, which majorly support health services in the developing countries. For the purpose of this assignment, I will compare and contrast Population Service International (PSI) and AIDS Relief, which are both international organizations funding health related programs in developing economies.

PSI at a Glance

It is a global health organization aimed at improving the health standards of people in the developing economies. The organization majorly focuses on challenges such as family planning, HIV and AIDS, health risks associated with children less than five years such as diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, and malnutrition, and ...

Introduction to MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial strain of S. aureus that that has developed a resistance to certain types of antibiotics, including methicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and amoxicillin (Farley 2008). The types of infections differ according to whether the MRSA infection was acquired in the hospital setting (HA-MRSA) or whether it was a community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infection. The most severe MRSA infections are those acquired in health care facilities and include infections of the bloodstream or surgical wounds, and pneumonia. MRSA bacteremia is often fatal, thus timely and aggressive intervention is critical in patients at ...

Introduction

As people grow older there are certain biological and cognitive changes that take place in the body. The human body experiences decreased capabilities in its respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, neural and urinary functions. Due to the adverse challenges that the elderly face in their later life, it would be great for the various scientists and experts to come together and research more on the theories of aging or the causes of aging. They can come up with more treatments that will increase the immunity system of the old people. This way the older people are able to live their last ...

Abstract

Ethical dilemmas occur across disciplines and cultures. Many times they are so intense that people take to the courts for what they perceive as justice. However, ethics regarding many life issues are so sensitive that even court rulings still leave parties dissatisfied with the ethical outcomes. In the following pages of this document the writer will examine an ethical issue facing society for which controversial opinions have been offered based on cultural beliefs emerging ...

Abstract

Karen Ann Quinlan is a woman who lived between March 1954 and June 1985. She was born to a single mother of American Irish ancestry. Later, her mom gave her up for adoption to Joseph and Julia Quinlan; a childless couple at the time. (Quinlan, 1978). At age 21 in 1975, however, after moving away from her adopted parents to live with friends; she encountered the unfortunate experience of becoming unconscious, remaining in a ...

SARS Disease Outbreak

The SARS disease outbreak occurred in 2003 when the World Health Organization issued a global alert on the disease that was similar to pneumonia (Wei et al., 2009). Similar cases were experienced in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. Other countries affected included Germany, United States, and Canada. The disease spread from Beijing leading to an outbreak in Tianjin city. According to Wei et al., (2009), 175 probable cases of SARS were reported. This included 21 deaths. The transfer of patients from one hospital to another stimulated the spread of the disease. A patient that was suspected ...

Endotracheal suctioning is one of the common procedures performed on patients with an artificial airway. It helps to remove secretions to prevent obstruction. Suctioning is also important in intubated patients in order to prevent the accumulation of secretions, which would then lead to colonization of the respiratory tract by pathogenic bacteria leading to the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Endotracheal suctioning can immediately reduce the dynamic compliance and expired tidal volume in patients (G Briassoulis, 2009).

A study by Choi et al in 2005 indicated that manual hyperinflation followed by suctioning induces beneficial changes in respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated ...

Nosocomial infections are infections acquired by patients and staff within a hospital or other health care settings. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) defined nosocomial infection as an infection acquired by a patient in a health care facility who was admitted for a different reason than the infection, and which must not be present or incubating at the time of admission. It may be alternately defined as any infection that develops 48 hours after admission or within 48 hours after the patient has been discharged (Shaikh et al., 2008). These infections are also referred to as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) ( ...

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition caused by a progressed state of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The retrovirus can be transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids via the bloodstream or mucous membranes (Moss; Maartens et al.; Simon et al.). Infection by HIV typically has four stages. The first stage is acute or primary infection which may last up to a few weeks, during which the infected person may either be asymptomatic or have flu-like symptoms such as fever, rash, malaise, body aches, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. Progression ...

Darline Stvictor-Viau

Molloy College Abstract Lung cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States today. While smoking is a significant risk factor, there are other causes of the disease. Second-hand smoke, exposure to radon gas and asbestos, and possibly other environmental contaminants act in conjunction with gender and ethnicity to result in a diagnosis of lung cancer. Numbers indicate that more non-smokers are being diagnosed with lung cancer at this time than non-smokers due to development of the disease after cessation. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly extend the life of the lung cancer patient while studies continue ...

Approach to reading a chest radiograph

An initial assessment is done to ensure that the radiograph belongs to the patient. According to Moskowitz (2011), once the initial assessment is done, the technical quality of the radiograph is determined. This entails assessing parameters such as rotation of the patient, exposure of the film and inspiratory effort of the patient. Moskowitz (2011) notes that rotations may in most cases symbolize abnormalities in the cardiac contour and can result in erroneous diagnoses. To make certain that the patient is not rotated the position of the medial ends of the clavicles needs to be equidistance from the spinous process. ...

Introduction

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is a virus that weakens the immune system in humans. This is accomplished as the virus attacks the cells that fight infection and diseases. As a virus, it is similar in nature to other viruses, such as the flu. Unlike other viruses, however, the symptoms associated with HIV do not improve over time as HIV reproduces by systematically overtaking the cells within the host body. HIV does not heal and once an individual is infected, that individual will live the remainder of their life with this virus (aids.gov, n.d.). The symptoms associated with HIV ...

Exercise 1: Anatomy of the Respiratory System

What are the two functions of the larynx? Larynx is a cartilaginous and a muscular structure while holds vocal cords together. It is used by human beings to talk, swallow and breathe. It is lined by the mucous membrane hence forming part of the respiratory system. Larynx protects the airways by closing quickly after mechanical simulation hence stopping respiratory and curbing the entry of foreign substances into the airways. The larynx also produces sound, controls ventilation and acts as a sensory organ.

Where does gas exchange take place in the lungs?

Gaseous exchange occurs in the lungs and for it to take place; there is the need for ...

English

Fighting Superbugs; more refined tactics need to be discovered Frequent use of antibiotics promotes growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria or superbugs. These bacteria are immune to the strongest medications. Despite the great progress in healthcare and medical technology, antibiotic resistant bacteria still need to be addressed very effectively. Superbugs are at rage against the humankind. An estimated one in twenty, or five percent, of patients now pick up a threatening superbug infection from the hospitals and this number is rising all the time. A recent study has shown that more than 1.7 million patients in the United States develop ...

Scientists have found metallopolymers. Metallopolymers are used to make strains vulnerable to antibiotics. Previously, bacteria were resistant to these antibiotics. Tang and his colleagues noted that a significant fraction of infection is caused by bacteria such as MRSA. MRSA is spread through contaminated hands. The presence of MRSA in the body causes pneumonia and deters treatment by traditional antibiotic such as penicillin when they produce enzymes. Although much effort has been made to inactivate this enzyme, a successful resolution has not been reached. In the process of coming up with a better alternative, Tang’s team tested a recently ...