Bacterial Infections: Management by Acute and Critical Care Nurses

Bacterial infections contribute to illness, prolong hospital stays, increase treatment costs, and contribute to the morbidity and mortality rates of hospitalized patients. Each year, more than 14,000 patients die in American hospitals because several strains of bacteria have become antibiotic resistant. In developing countries, bacterial infectious diseases continue to cause pervasive mortality. Bacterial classifications, defenses against infection, common bacteria that cause infection, pathophysiology, and prevention and treatment modalities are reviewed. Nursing assessment and patient care management strategies are examined.