A 12-year-old male is admitted to the pediatric unit due to persistent upper respiratory symptoms and respiratory distress. The patient has a history of developmental delay, chronic lung disease, and frequent respiratory infections. Upon assessment, the RN notes the patient to have a fever, moderate respiratory rate, productive cough, and large amount of nasal secretions. Upon report from the patient's mother, the patient has been on a 3-week course of antibiotics with no improvement in symptoms. The medical team completes a respiratory infection workup and the patient is diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) superinfection.
-Based upon the patient's history,what is the most likely cause of the superinfection?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's history of frequent respiratory infections and chronic lung disease suggests a weakened immune system that may have been further compromised by long-term antibiotic therapy, which can disrupt the natural bacterial balance in the body and encourage the growth of drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. Poor hygiene and fecal-oral contamination are possible routes of MRSA transmission, but the patient's history suggests that antibiotic use is the most likely contributing factor in this case. Community-acquired MRSA is also a possibility, but the patient's hospitalization and medical history make healthcare-associated MRSA more likely.

A 12-Year-Old Male Is Admitted to the Pediatric Unit Due