Do nurses get MRSA easily?

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Hi everyone:

I am very worried about bringing MRSA to my kids at home. What are chances for nurses to become a MRSA carrier? Where I can find some related articles to read? I am very worried as my hospital has a lot of MRSA.

Thanks!

Jane

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Specializes in Only the O.R. and proud of it!.

If my information is correct (feel free to double check):

MRSA/MRO and VRE/VRO is more of a problem in those with large histories of antibiotic therapies, and those in the hospital for extended periods. If you culture all the nurses, I'll bet 50% or more will have some sort of MRO in them. It is not a problem with most, because we are healthy and our immune systems keep us going. MRO is a universal precaution thing at my institution. If you follow universal precautions, wash hands/arms in-between and before each patient, before leaving the hospital, and when you get home, my money says that you and your family are safe. Personally, I feel dirty after work and like to shower when I get home.

-Dave.

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Thank your for your reply. Now I can relax a little bit.

Jane

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I was just thinking about this very same thing this morning. I'm exposed to MRSA patients all the time and worry about bringing it to my family.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Personally, I am not afraid of bringing it home. I am afraid of my kids bringing it home from school! Our school district had a MRSA outbreak on the football team a couple of years ago. My daughter got it from her brother in law over Christmas. He is a high school student and does not frequent hospitals. :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Good advice from Dave.

Our skin, and our entire body system is designed to protect ward off unfriendly bugs. Our bodies have plenty of bugs to overcrowd them, etc. etc.

Nurses haven been known to catch MRSA infections in places such as an open wound. I had a coworker cut himself in a room of a MRSA patient on a piece of equipment and got a wicked infection MRSA infection.

But for the most part I don't hear much about nurse's families getting ill with MRSA infections, especially if their kids are in nomral health. Surely someone is going to chime in that they got an infection and their kids got an infection, but statistically speaking I think odds are in our favor.

Just wash ya hands. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Personally, I am not afraid of bringing it home. I am afraid of my kids bringing it home from school! Our school district had a MRSA outbreak on the football team a couple of years ago. My daughter got it from her brother in law over Christmas. He is a high school student and does not frequent hospitals. :uhoh21:

Wow! What type of infection? Blood, urine, sputum? What? I've never head of such a thing and am curious.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
Personally, I am not afraid of bringing it home. I am afraid of my kids bringing it home from school! Our school district had a MRSA outbreak on the football team a couple of years ago. My daughter got it from her brother in law over Christmas. He is a high school student and does not frequent hospitals. :uhoh21:

The same thing happened with the football team at my university. One of the players had an infected wound (from pads rubbing against the legs, etc.) if I remember correctly. The team members share towels and such, and they were afraid of the infection spreading so they screened the whole team.

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yeah.....and girls' soccer team, too.

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Scary, I hadn't heard of community outbreaks before this. :(

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

There were some cases at our school district too. They attributed it to wrestling mats and benches in the weight rooms.

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There is an outbreak at the local prison up here.

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