Exposed to flesh eating bacteria, scared

[chapsticknurse]

An assistant was setting up a sitz bath for a patient with a very large wound, I'm not sure what caused it but it may have been a strain of staph/MRSA and I overheard it was flesh eating bacteria. While setting up, the tube squirted water out and got into her eye and on part of her face. The sitz bath tubing was not new nor was the tub! She was told to flush her eyes out and wash her face. She told me she will go to see the employee health department tomorrow but I advised her to go to the ED right away. The md on the unit said that the patient was on antibiotics (Vanco, etc) for several days so she probably isn't infected. What the hell, is there anything wrong with this picture? Would they give prophylactic oral abx for this situation?!!!!!! I'm scared for her!

[Five&Two Will Do]

That would scare the @@@@ out of me! I hate wounds and darn sure would like any sitz drainage in my eye! :barf01:You gave good advice go to the ER or employee health asap after any type of exposure regardless of what other nurses or doctors tell you

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

Good advice. At both of the hospitals that I have worked at, if a health care worker was exposed or suspected to be exposed they were sent straight to the ED. I wonder what the physician would have said if it was him/her, children, wife, mother, etc. who may have been exposed. "PROBABLY ISN'T INFECTED" isn't good enough!!! Not sure about the prophylactic ATB. However, know a ID nurse who was started on a prophylactic ATB after possible exposure (can't remember what for). I also worked with a nurse who was squirted in the eyes by body fluids from a patient who had AIDS, Hep B & C, and herpes. Needless to say, she went straight to the ED and had to be continuously tested. She was devastated. I was definitely scared for her. Unfortunately, as health care workers we know the risks that are involved. BUT. we are there for each other. Give her support and/or prayer! It will help.

[starzrn]

I worked for a wound doctor who used to not wash his hands and put his hand on a bloody wound in an HIV pt, without gloves, then picked up the chart and went into the next room to see another patient. I reported him! Doctors are some of the worst infection prevention role models...you gave good advice!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I suggest the CNA talk to the infection control nurse and/or discuss with other health professional.

[FutureNurse_8708]

You gave good advice to see someone right away...that is definitely not something you just want to wash off and think it is gone. I was be terrified also!

[79Tango]

We had a co-worker kicked in the face by a urine soaked foot last night... She kept saying nothing got in her eye but they sent her to the ER anyway. She was given a script for a prophylactic

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Secondary contact with MRSA that has been tx w/ Vanc for more than a day? No, I wouldn't write a script for prophylaxis in that scenario. She should consult an ID physician if she is concerned.

[captcrunchy]

Prophylactic antibiotics? That's just what we need, another resistant strain! A thourough flushing of her eyes is probably sufficent but why was she not wearing PPE? Any chance of spashes should be enough of a reason to wear...

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

We had a co-worker kicked in the face by a urine soaked foot last night... She kept saying nothing got in her eye but they sent her to the ER anyway. She was given a script for a prophylactic

This is bad practice. Completely unnecessary.

[Butterfliesnroses]

If this happened to me I'd just thoroughly rinse my eyes and then hope for the best! I'd watch so s/sx of infection and if an infection occured THEN get treated! No wonder we has strains resistant to abx!

[thehipcrip]

We had a co-worker kicked in the face by a urine soaked foot last night... She kept saying nothing got in her eye but they sent her to the ER anyway. She was given a script for a prophylactic

If the urine came from someone with a known UTI *and* some of the urine had actually gotten into her eye, then an antibiotic prophylaxis would seem appropriate. Otherwise the doctors in your ER are just contributing to the problem of over-prescribing antibiotics when they aren't called for.