I have a nurse friend who had surgery several weeks ago, and the wound is still weeping alot and hasn't healed, despite abx. The wound was cultured, and found to be MRSA positive. This nurse is in an OR setting for c-section deliveries, as well as working on the labor delivery floor. This nurse is now taking a MRSA drug (clindamycin, and will progress to vanc if needed), but continues to work-on a clean l/d unit as well as in the OR.
My questions:
1.) I know many health care professionals are MRSA positive, but doesn't having a weeping wound that has saturated your scrubs merit some sick time? It's hard for me to understand why she is putting her patients at risk. (And everything that I've read on MRSA states that it is ok to work, but only if the wound is covered and not weeping.)
2.) How do you disinfect a room after an MRSA patient leaves it? Furthermore, how does one disinfect their home after their MRSA weeping wound culture is negative? (ie Should we make a visit there to see her or not?)
3.) What should the rules be for mandatory sick time for a MRSA positive nurse?
She is not even in the same town or state as I am, so we are not working together. I'm left wondering if she isn't protecting her patients form MRSA, then would her home be "clean" for guests? I'm not sure that a simple discussion with her would work, as she would view it as a confrontation.
The reason I am thinking so deeply about this is that about two years ago, the l/d unit I work on had several post c/s patients return with MRSA infections, and Infection Control mega analyzed the situation and resulted in many many many preventive interventions for all staff. Such as wearing in street clothes, and changing into scrubs at work, as well as a more indepth post op prep.
If anyone has any ideas on this topic, please post.
