any cnas ever catch anything from their residents/patients

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I'm a CNA student and we're actually going over infection infect control and the instructor was telling us how hand washing breaks the chain of infection. Great, but she was saying how easily things spread for ex she said how in this resident had conjunctivitis and next thing you know the whole unit did and that this resulted from worker bad hand hygiene. Not saying YOU were careless but has anyone caught something a resident had. Esp something more serious like mrsa or something.

Only thing that worries me is bringing some I feel infection home to my baby. Of course doing something wrong and hurting a resident would be another worry.

The thing to remember about MRSA and c-diff is that you can be a carrier without showing symptoms. Many people are carrying small amounts of these bugs, but in healthy people they're kept in check by your immune system and by competing beneficial bacteria. C-diff symptoms typically show up when you take antibiotics and wipe out the good bacteria in your intestines, leaving the c-diff able to grow unchecked because it's resistant to most commonly used antibiotics.

So you can't assume you're just fine because you don't have obvious symptoms.

That said, a pretty low percentage of healthcare providers are MRSA carriers.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

That said, a pretty low percentage of healthcare providers are MRSA carriers.

I wouldn't want to put that to a test. I think we'd be surprised at how many of us test positive in the nares or ears.

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I wouldn't want to put that to a test. I think we'd be surprised at how many of us test positive in the nares or ears.

I googled around some while responding to this thread - studies have shown the % is much lower than I personally would have anticipated - I've found several that say ~5% of healthcare workers. I have not looked at this deeply, and I don't know if this includes workers who don't provide direct (or only limited) patient care.

But I agree - wouldn't want to put it to a test.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I wouldn't want to put that to a test. I think we'd be surprised at how many of us test positive in the nares or ears.
Am raising my hand!!!

Many pts come in positive but haven't been identified for isolation precautions yet, so guess who gets exposed unknowingly?

RN here, but everyone is at risk.

Of course, I could have been exposed by somebody in a crowded elevator somewhere.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
Am raising my hand!!!

Many pts come in positive but haven't been identified for isolation precautions yet, so guess who gets exposed unknowingly?

RN here, but everyone is at risk.

Of course, I could have been exposed by somebody in a crowded elevator somewhere.

We have "Modified Contact" because we're inpt rehab and pts can't be isolated and participate in therapy.....so if they test + for MRSA of the nares they are put on modified contact which simply means use soap and water. I think its so weird when I float to a medical floor and have to gown up for every other patient, LOL.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
I googled around some while responding to this thread - studies have shown the % is much lower than I personally would have anticipated - I've found several that say ~5% of healthcare workers. I have not looked at this deeply, and I don't know if this includes workers who don't provide direct (or only limited) patient care.

But I agree - wouldn't want to put it to a test.

I did the same thing! I kinda don't believe it though, lol. Guess I'm a skeptic. hehe

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Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

I've managed to get influenza A, ringworm and several colds from work . I've been a CNA or the equivalent now for 14 years and apart from the ringworm which we think I caught at hydrotherapy when another client was discovered to have it and it wasn't covered, the rest I've gotten by being sneezed on when I haven't been wearing a mask because who wears a mask if they're unaware that someone is sick? I have managed to never have nits though which I've been told is quite impressive with the number of kids in disability services that had them.

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I"ve caught colds and things like that. Had a co-worker catch scabie. *shudder*

You just have to be careful, always wash your hands or use sanitizer. I carry a little bottle in my pocket as well as use the ones provided and I actually wash my hands before and after actual patient care even though we're allowed to only use the sanitizer unless our hands are visibly soiled.

Also what others have said, I go directly to the washer, put my clothes in and jump in the shower. This involves walking through the house naked but my husband doesn't mind ;-)

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do

Glycerine82 What do you mean when you said "even though we're allowed to only use the sanitizer unless our hands are visibly soiled." ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I've managed to get influenza A, ringworm and several colds from work . I've been a CNA or the equivalent now for 14 years and apart from the ringworm which we think I caught at hydrotherapy when another client was discovered to have it and it wasn't covered, the rest I've gotten by being sneezed on when I haven't been wearing a mask because who wears a mask if they're unaware that someone is sick? I have managed to never have nits though which I've been told is quite impressive with the number of kids in disability services that had them.
Got scabies - me and my 2 CNAs.
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Our whole facility went into quarantine for 3 days and everyone, staff included, had to be treated for scabies after a resident caught it from a family member. That was insane and a huge mess.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Just a bit of trivia - the oral ivermectin they give us staff & pts for scabies is also used by veteranarians (sp?) for dogs to treat parasites and heartworm. Interesting!!!

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
Glycerine82 What do you mean when you said "even though we're allowed to only use the sanitizer unless our hands are visibly soiled." ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????

I mean exactly that. If your hand aren't visibly soiled you can just use hand sanitizer.

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