What do u know about MRSA?

Question

I work in a home that cares for the elderly and I have recently found out that 1 of the residents has MRSA.I am a domestic (cleaner) at the home and not 1 team leader or manager has told me what guide lines I shold be following,for the safety of everyone else and myself.How do i stand as a member of staff and I am also 26 weeks pregnant and can this effect my un-born baby?What should I do?

Answer 1

It can affect un born babies many have been born with toxic shock syndrome. I think you should get advice from your doctor and in the mean time cover any cuts or open sores

Answer 2

You want to know about MRSA? Okay, so I'll tel you. MRSA is an acronym that stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus, or Staph a. as it's more informally known, is a very common bacteria. We all have it on our skin and in our noses most of the time. And for those with healthy immune systems, this bacteria never causes a problem. Methicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the penicillin family and was once widely used to treat Staph infections. Unfortunately, it overused (over-prescribed) and misused (patients didn't complete their presciptions) and over time, the bacteria became resistant to penicillins and antibiotics that work in the same way as penicillins. Back in the late 90s, memos went out by mail to doctors and other prescribing providers to back off from over-prescribing antibiotics because of this mounting problem. Patients continued to demand antibiotics even when unnecessary although some doctors did back off. That's the history. MRSA infections are mostly treatable and there are antibiotics that they are susceptible to. When undertreated or ignored, the infection may eventually colonize. That means it's in such great numbers and has such a toehold, that it's permanent but there's no active infection and the bacteria causes no harm to the host. MRSA infections can occur in a number of places. The nasal cavity is a common one as the environment is ideal for this bacteria. Other sites include the eyes, ears, the respiratory tract, the skin, in wound beds and in the urine. Your version is only one of many so don't get the mistaken idea that this is the only kind of MRSA infection there is. Another common misconception is that MRSA is the same as an MRSA infection. Wrong! One is the bacteria and the other is the infection. To say "I have MRSA" means little. I probably have some on my skin at this moment. The presence of the bacteria isn't the same as having an infection. Get that clearly understood. If you are aggressively and appropriately treated, you could be free of infection in 7-14 days. In my hospital, we treat MRSA infections aggressively both systemically and topically, when a topical treatment applies. In your case, I'd recommend chlorhexadine liquid soap which is marketed under the name of Hibiclens and Hibistat, to name two. Speak to your doctor about this to make sure there are no contraindications to your using it. If you get the go-ahead, you will wash yourself with soap and warm water, then apply the least amount of Hibiclens needed to cover the affected areas, straight out of the bottle, do not dilute! Lather and leave on for 3 minutes. Rinse and dry. Don't think that you're doomed to have an MRSA infection forever.

Answer 3

Even as a cleaner there are precautions you need to be taking. Gloves and aprons (and possibly a mask, if in contact with the resident )all of which should be disposed of when you leave that residents room. Hand washing is also important so take a small bottle of no water solution with you and use it (It's available at any chemist) I'd certainly have a word with the team leader and ask for the protection to be provided! It should be standard rules anyway. Or you could ask not to clean that room as I'm not sure how much risk you are putting the baby under but you yourself are at risk if you have cut's or minor wounds and could spread the infection to other residents. I'm not sure if being pregnant puts you at a higher risk level or not you'd have to ask a Doctor!
We all carry the MRSA bugs but illness, disability, old-age or surgery make us at risk of it becoming an illness.

Answer 4

Do you have a risk assessment yet at work? If not you need one.

All pregnant women where I worked were told to avoid patients with MRSA or C-Diff.

I suggest you speak to the manager, they should at the very least have some barrier nursing precautions in place.

I would take issue with The Crusader below- no its not part of our normal flora, but there are many many carriers out there. it does them no harm at all until they become ill or contaminate someone else. Workers in care homes and hospitals are more likely to be carrying the bug, but thats not to say they are infected by it.

Answer 5

The main guidelines state that basic barrier nursing, washing hands and wearing protective clothing (gloves, aprons and sometimes masks) should be effective in not passing the MRSA bug to other patients. Even if you are pregnant as long as you are adhering to the hygiene precautions laid down by the department of health you should be fine. these precautions are also in place if you are touching bed linen, personal items of the resident or just cleaning the room. the practice of washing your hands between residents will help prevent cross infections.

Answer 6

DONT GO NEAR THE ROOM!!!
you should have had infection control training if not why not? all care homes have to have this done at least 1-2 times per year..your pregnant so you do not do the room and the same goes for anyone who has scabies,c-diff,dioreha,sickness etc

if you wasnt pregnant then you would leave their room till last red bag everything i.e clothing,bedding,towels flannels.
wear apron and gloves all cutlery to be washed seperatley and re-used for the resident NOT given to anyone else thrown if resident dies (into yellow sacks and put in with pad bins for incineration)


get yourself checked out
hope all is well

get a risk assessment

Answer 7

I am MRSA positive. Contracted in 97 and still have to warn all doctors, nurses, emts. anyone that comes in contact with me medically. Gloves, mask at ALL TIMES for you.
Although it can be cololized and controlled it is potentially deadly. 70% of elderly patients die from it. This is nothing to be careless about. WHen I had my Groshon Shunt removed the attending was pregnant, I asked for a new attending to be safe. That is the responsible thing to do.

Answer 8

I know that it can last up to 10 weeks on any dry surface.
I know it can last up to 6 months in dust, feeding off dead skin.
I know that around 33% of us are colonised with it.
I know that there are new strains developing such as CA MRSA and PVL MRSA.
I know that infections could be reduced if the government knew as much as they think they know.
I know that hospitals discharge patients into the community with it.
I know that if a person dies, having been infected with MRSA, the funeral director is not informed.
I know that there is a new and safer way being tested to de-colonise people with MRSA.

Answer 9

Depending on where the infection is, there are definitely precautions that should be followed. If the patient has an MRSA respiratory infection, you should be wearing a mask. If it is wound, or gastro, you should be wearing gloves, gown, and mask if you are doing direct patient care, or gloves when cleaning the room as long as your clothes don't touch.

Answer 10

There should be policies and protocols in place on how to prevent this from being passed from person to person.

It does not pose a risk to you or your child as long as you follow the precautions correctly.

If no policies or protocols in place, take your query higher, as this is an infection control and health and safety issue, and legally, the home should be training everyone on how to deal with it, and also legally should have policies and protocols in place. If not, they are breaking the law.

Answer 11

Despite what some people on here are saying, MRSA is not part of our normal flora (meaning we don't all carry it). I cannot stress this enough. We all carry Staphylococcus on our skin. It lives there and is alright there. But MRSA is something entirely different. It's a different strain of Staph and it is resistant to many antibiotics. If you are being exposed to this at work and have not been given any guidelines about what you should/shouldn't be doing, I would speak with my supervisor if I were you. If you don't get any satisfaction from him/her, take a medical leave of abscence. You also need to speak with your doctor and be screened to make sure that you haven't picked it up, especially because you're pregnant. Please, please, please do NOT listen to anyone who says that this is something normal that everyone has and carries it.