| dc.description.abstract | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a serious
nosocomial and community-associated pathogen in aboriginal people in Canada
(Canadian Pediatric Society, 2005). A recent survey with First Nations employed
community health nurses (CHNs) in the Atlantic region found that nursing knowledge is
lowest in the area of emerging infections such as MRSA (Mi’kmaq Confederacy of
Prince Edward Island, 2009). The objective of this project is to review the nursing
literature on this topic and to describe the factors that contribute to low nursing
knowledge of MRSA. A search of the literature published during 2000-2008 using
Medline, CINAHL with full text, DARE, and CDSR was conducted using the following
search terms: “community-acquired MRSA”, “hospital-associated MRSA”, “hospital acquired
MRSA”, “community-associated MRSA”, “MRSA”, “community health
nursing”, “nurse” “nursing”, “antibiotic resistant organisms”, “nosocomial infections”
and “knowledge”. The search generated 48 papers for review. For each paper,
information was obtained on the study population, health care setting (acute or
community), geographic location of the research, and the study type. Publications were
sorted by topic area MRSA (CA-MRSA, HA-MRSA or both) or nosocomial infections.
The articles were also organized into key theme areas for further description. Sixty-two
and one half percent (30) of the papers referred to healthcare workers as the study
population (nurses, doctors, aides, dentists). Nurses were the primary study population in
37.5% (18) of the papers, with only three of these papers focused on community health
nurses. The research in this area has emerged from the United Kingdom (37.5%) and the
United States (35%), with a paucity of research on this topic in Canada (15%) and the rest of the world. Sixty-two and one half percent of the papers focused on MRSA with
two of the papers discussing CA-MRSA, Thirty-seven and one half percent of the papers
focused on the broader topic of nosocomial infections. Acute care is the most common
setting for research in this area (73%). Only five articles were found on this topic in a
community setting. The majority of literature available addresses MRSA knowledge
deficits and strategies to address them. There is limited literature published on the factors
contributing to low nursing knowledge of MRSA. The review suggests that a gap exists
in infection control content in nursing curriculum at the undergraduate level and between
nurses’ reported knowledge and practice. The review also suggests that nurses’ personal
way of knowing contributes to their knowledge ofMRSA. Further research is required
on these factors. Additional research on this topic is needed in Canada and in a variety of
nursing practice settings. Nurses employed in First Nations communities warrant
increased attention considering the implications of MRSA in aboriginal people. | |
