Description
Create an outline about the history of anime …I have provide an example of how the outline needs to be…
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Caitlin Boyd
Sample Informative Speech Outline
Staphylococcus Infections: The Silent Killer
Introduction:
Attention Getter
On October 4, 2007, Ashton Bonds, an otherwise healthy high school senior, was admitted to a
Virginia hospital after complaining of abdominal pain. The doctors ran tests, but were unable to
determine the cause of his illness and sent him home. Days later, his condition had worsened
and he was readmitted to the hospital. This time, the doctors discovered the problem: a staph
infection. By the time the diagnosis was made, the disease had already spread to Ashton’s
lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. The doctors attempted to drain the infected fluid, but before
the surgery could be performed, Ashton developed a blood clot near his heart and died. He
was 17 years old.
While most healthy people can recover from staph infections easily, they can occasionally
become seriously ill. In rare cases, staph infections can be fatal. In order to protect yourself
and your loved ones, it’s important to find out more about staph.
Central Idea/Thesis
Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as ‘staph’, is a generally innocuous bacterium that
lives on human skin. However, when staph bacteria enter the bloodstream serious
complications can sometimes occur, causing severe illness and even death.
Significance Statement/Justification
According to a study performed by Dr. Tamer Fouad of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in
2005, nearly 5% of hospital or nursing home patients contract staph at some point during their
stay. He estimates that these infections result in almost 12,000 hospital-related staph deaths per
year in the US. Factoring in the number of infections and deaths that take place outside of
hospitals, the number of staph deaths climbs even higher.
Preview
In order to protect ourselves better from this potentially fatal organism, we will first find out
what staph is and how it spreads. Next, we will discover how staph is diagnosed and treated.
Finally, we will find out the best ways to prevent staph infections and find out what doctors are
doing to reduce their patient’s risk of developing infections.
Transition: Staph has received a lot of publicity in recent years, but most people still aren’t
clear on exactly what staph is and how it is contracted. So let’s first look at some basic facts.
I.
Staph is a common bacteria passed by human contact that can sometimes have severe
complications.
A.
Though many people have heard of staph, most have mistaken ideas about what
it is.
1.
B.
C.
Staphylococcus aureus is a highly contagious form of bacteria, not a virus
as some believe.
2.
Staph is not particularly rare. According to the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey in 2001, over 30% of the US population
carries staph bacteria, usually on the skin around the scalp, armpits, groin,
and in the nasal passages.
3.
Staph can also be carried by domesticated animals such as dogs and cats,
though it is not clear whether the bacteria can be passed between
animals and humans. An extensive study examining potential
transmission between species was published in Veterinary Microbiology
in June 2006, but the results were inconclusive and researchers still are
not sure whether humans can catch staph from animals.
Staph is usually contracted through human contact, and enters the body through
the bloodstream.
1.
The primary method of infection for humans is contact with an infected
person or a contaminated object or surface.
2.
Infection develops when bacteria breaches the skin and enters the
bloodstream. People with open wounds and cuts are at risk for
contracting staph.
3.
Staph can generally be found wherever people congregate. Hospitals,
lockers rooms and swimming pools are common sources of staph
infections.
Staph can be dangerous for people with weakened immune systems.
1.
For healthy people who have strong immune systems, staph infections are
generally not serious, though according to a Columbia University Health
Services article on staph published in 2002, it sometimes causes such
minor conditions as impetigo, sties, and boils. However, in people with
impaired immune systems (such as HIV patients, drug users, small
children, the elderly, and people with other medical conditions that
damage their immune system) staph infections can be fatal.
2.
When staph begins to spread in a hospital or other medical facility, it can
be deadly because of the high concentration of people at high risk for
infection due to illness and injury.
Transition: Now that we understand what staph is and how it is contracted, we need to know
how doctors can diagnose and treat the illness. Fortunately, modern medicine had many ways
of dealing with infections like staph.
II.
Doctors have developed many different methods of dealing with staph infections.
A.
Because it is a potentially serious illness, careful precautions and quick action
must be taken when doctors suspect staph.
1.
In 2006, the Center for Disease Control issued a memo to hospitals,
detailing how staph infections should be diagnosed. These instructions
state that first swabs should be taken from the infected area. Next, the
cells collected from the swab should be examined under a microscope to
confirm the presence of staph bacteria.
2.
B.
If staph is diagnosed, the CDC recommends that doctors carefully
examine anyone who has come into contact with the patient to make
sure they have not contracted the disease. If the staph infection occurs
in a hospital and is a particularly virulent strain, this can sometimes mean
quarantining an entire section of hospital personnel and patients to make
sure the infection does not spread.
Staph can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics, but sometimes that is
not effective.
1.
Because it is a bacterium, staph can often be effectively treated with
antibiotics. However, over the last few years, many different kinds of
antibiotics have lost effectiveness due to overuse. Sources such as the
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics blame this on overprescription by doctors and improper use by patients. According to a
statement released by the APUA in 1999, antibiotic overuse is a serious
problem in medicine today. When antibiotics are used too often or
inappropriately, the bacteria develop resistance to the drugs, rendering
them ineffective.
2.
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is the name for a
certain strain of staph bacteria that has become impervious to most
antibiotics. While healthy people infected with MRSA can often recover
from the disease without the need for antibiotics, people with impaired
immune systems can be in serious trouble. According to information
released by the MRSA Watch in 2006, there are still a few antibiotics that
are effective against MRSA, but if the infection is not treated promptly, it
can be fatal.
Transition: So while medical professionals do have ways of treating staph, an ounce of
prevention is still worth a pound of cure. Fortunately, there are still many ways the staph can
be prevented. Let’s look at some of the best ways to avoid the disease.
III.
The best methods of preventing staph involve cleanliness and taking appropriate
precautions with infected patients.
A.
Basic methods of infection control are most effective when dealing with staph
1.
Hand-washing is the best way to reduce the spread of staph bacteria. It is
also a good idea to refrain from touching the face, open wounds, and
mucus membranes (such as the nose) that may harbor staph bacteria.
2.
In 2006, the Center for Disease Control issued guidelines on their
website to health departments encouraging certain precautions to
prevent the spread of staph. The information stated that cleanliness in
medical facilities is vital, and medical professionals are encouraged to be
vigilant about washing hands between patients and ensuring all medical
instruments are sanitized. Gloves should also be used when dealing with
potentially infected fluids, and patient surfaces like examining tables
should be sterilized frequently.
B.
The prevalence of MRSA is blamed largely on inappropriate drug use, and so
patients are urged to exercise caution in taking antibiotics.
1.
2.
The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics published guidelines on
their website in 1999 regarding the proper use of antibiotics. These
recommendations urge patients to never ask their doctor for an
antibiotic to treat a viral illness such as a cold or the flu. The medication
will not be effective, and will only contribute to bacteria resistance.
The APUA also says that patients who are prescribed antibiotics should
make sure to finish all the pills they are given, unless directed otherwise
by a doctor. Also, pills should never be given to someone other than the
patient they are prescribed for, since this can also lead to bacteria
resistance if the person taking the pill does not have a bacterial infection.
Conclusion:
Review
Having learned first about what staph is and how it spreads, next how it is treated and finally,
what we can do to protect ourselves, hopefully, we can take the precautions we need to save
ourselves and our loved ones.
Powerful Closing
Due to the recent increase in staph infections, some people may feel uneasy about staying in a
hospital or having an operation. While staph infections are a real risk, especially for anyone
with an impaired immune system, it’s important to remember that the benefits of modern
medicine still far outweigh the risks. Still, it is always a good idea to be vigilant about potential
health problems. Hopefully, as awareness of staph increases, fewer people will suffer like
Ashton Bonds.
Bibliography
Fouad, T. (2005, August 11). Study shows hospital staph infections cause 12,000 deaths.
Doctor’s Lounge Web. Retrieved October 4, 2007, from World Wide Web:
http://www.doctorslounge.com/infections/articles/nosocomial/staph_hospital/
Gilbert, F. B. (2006). Differentiation of bovine staphylococcus aureus. Veterinary Microbiology.
117, 297-303.
Hageman J.C., Patel J.B, Carey R.C., Tenover F.C., McDonald L.C. (2006). Investigation and
control of vancomycin-intermediate and –resistant staphylococcus aureus: A Guide for
Health Departments and Infection Control Personnel. Center for Disease Control.
Retrieved October 1, 2007, from World Wide Web:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_visavrsa_prevention.html
Mainous, A. G. (2006, April 14). Nasal carriage of staphylococcus aureus and methicillinresistant s. aureus in the united states, 2001-2002. Annals of Family Medicine, 4,
Retrieved October 1, 2007, from World Wide Web:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/529124
(1999). What is antibiotic resistance & why is it a problem?. Alliance for the Prudent Use of
Antibiotics. Retrieved October 1, 2007, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/Patients/patient.html
(2002, April 5). What is a staph infection? Go Ask Alice Health Services at Columbia
University. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2109.html
(2006, May 27). Helping you respond to infections. MRSA & Staph Infections. Retrieved
October 1, 2007, from the World Wide Web:
http://tahilla.typepad.com/mrsawatch/2006/05/mrsa_watch_help.html
(2006, October 10). Healthcare-associated methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. Center
for Disease Control. Retrieved October 2, 2007, from World Wide Web:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
