hipaa and mrsa in the workplace?

Question

I work in a nursing home in the laundry dept. Lately when a resident aquires MRSA we are the last to know. They don't tell us usually we find out on our own and I just want to know if this is truly following hippas guidelines or if they are being a little uptight. I would've thought we had the right to know since we have contact with the resident's clothing and sometimes the resident.

Answer 1

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium often found in 20-30% of the noses of normal healthy people and is also commonly found on people's skin. Most strains of this bacterium are sensitive to many antibiotics and infections can be effectively treated. Staphylococcus aureus which are resistant to an antibiotic called methicillin are referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. Many commonly prescribed antibiotics are not effective against these bacteria. Some MRSA strains occur in epidemics, indicated by an 'E' before MRSA eg EMRSA-16, EMRSA-3 and may be distinguished from others by a number of special laboratory techniques.

MRSA rarely, if ever, presents a danger to the general public. It is no more dangerous or virulent than methicillin-sensitive S. aureus but it is more difficult to treat. This bacterium is usually confined to hospitals and in particular to vulnerable or debilitated patients. These include patients in intensive care units, burns units, surgical and orthopaedic wards. Some nursing homes have experienced problems with this bacterium. MRSA does not pose a risk to the health of hospital staff , unless they are suffering from a debilitating disease, or family members of an affected patient or their close social or work contacts. Therefore the friends or family of such a patient need not take any special precautions and should not be discouraged from normal social contact.

MRSA bacteria can move from the skin of an infected person to the skin of another person during prolonged skin to skin contact between them. MRSA also can move from the skin of an infected person onto commonly shared objects (such as towels) or surfaces and then is transferred to the skin of the person who touches the item next. Basically, anything that can touch the skin of one person can carry the bacteria to the skin of another person.

MRSA almost always is spread through physical contact, not
through the air. If you have MRSA in your nose and you touch
your nose and then touch someone else, you can spread it to that person.

Based on the above, no, the nursing home is not being anal and they have no obligation to inform staff without a requisite 'right to know' regarding medical treatment or contact with the physical patient.

Answer 2

The nursing team are required to double bag all linen, with mrsa, and it incredibly isn't any longer a hippa situation. the double bagging is a water soluble bag then in a yellow bag. you're making a small tear interior the yellow bag and placed each and every little thing interior the washing device, no longer touching any of the linen.

Answer 3

I wuold speak to a lawyer immediately mrsa is nothing to be taken lightly

Answer 4

Contact OSHA re: the laws on your right to know.
I am almost positive that all workers have the right to know if they are treating a contagious resident.
http://www.osha.gov/