I have a question for IC nurses or general care nurses. How many of your hospitals room MRSA infected or colonized patients with MRSA negative patients. CDC recommends isolation or cohorting for both, but if not possible room with someone who is at low risk for MRSA. I sure would like to know who in a hospital setting is at low risk for MRSA.
I am still fighting the battle in Maine for High Risk Screening for all our hospitals. It is an ongoing battle. Who would have ever thought that screening for a deadly infection like MRSA would be such a battle and the ones who fight it most are infectious disease docs!
I know of several patients just in my vicinity that have been roomed with actively infected MRSA patients. One got HA MRSA. So far the others have not. Just lucky I guess.
I have always suspected that my father, who died of HA MRSA was exposed to an infected roommate with respiratory MRSA. He had 3 roommates, who all died of respiratory illness. And he contracted MRSA pneumonia after a 12 day stay in that hospital. HE had no invasive procedures...and that is why I believe he had an infected roommate. I know...hands usually spread MRSA, but so does air and the environment when it is droplet like with MRSA pneumonia.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
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