Published
I think that direct care providers have a more robust immune system due to continuous exposure. When I began nursing school, I caught a lot of 'bugs' from patients. But after a couple years, I was much less susceptible. The only thing I still come down with on a regular basis is "crazy" - if I am exposed to whack jobs for any length of time.
I did convert after exposure to TB in my 3rd year of ICU nursing & had to undergo 6 mos of prophylaxis. It's pretty much endemic here in So. Texas, so it isn't unusual. Over the years, I have known 2 nurses who became HIV+ after accidental exposures; both are still OK. I worked with an brand new ER (MD) Resident who contracted fulminating Hepatitis from a patient - & she died in less than 2 weeks. An LVN I worked with was splashed in the face with mucous when she was doing trach care - got a corneal herpes infection & had to eventually have a corneal transplant. A lot of colleagues have discovered that they are now colonized with MRSA - not symptomatic at present, but who knows how it will affect them if they become seriously ill in the future.
I got plenty of URIs from the snotty-nosed kiddos in the community health center where I used to work. Esp the first year! Nothing serious, though.
I'm quite sure I'll pop up +MRSA in my nares if tested. Went to flush a g-tube once and somehow it popped out and g-tube juice hit me in the face. A couple days letter the lady's on contact for MRSA in - where else? - the g-tube.
bronzemint23
89 Posts
I'm just curious.... how often does it happen that someone catches a disease/illness from a patient while working as a nurse? Just want to know what the risk is like...