exposed to respiratory mrsa

[sophie09]

i work in rehab/ltc, and a recent admission tested positive for respiratory MRSA- when she was admitted, she had cultures pending at the hospital, but this info was not on the screen we received from our admissions screener. Several people ranging from our driver to nursing to dietary were exposed to this patient, who is a respiratory pt. What would your course of action be?

[MommyandRN]

Nothing. Most of the LTC population test positive for MRSA in their sputum in my experience. Unless you are immunocomprimised you are OK. It's more of a concern for those who are in the hospital with the pt, and the caregiver doesn't wash their hands, and then someone else gets MRSA in their wound etc.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I wouldn't do anything. It a nonevent. A no biggie. And, it goes with the territory.

I assume everybody has something.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Tested positive doesn't mean infected necessarily.....could be just colonized. Relax :)

[Munch]

I was just thinking what mommyandrn stated. Unless you have a compromised immune system(due to cancer, immunosuppressant medications etc) OR if maybe the patient sneezed or vomited on you(I've had both happen to me and even in those cases I didn't catch anything and the patients DID have something contagious)then I wouldn't worry.

[milwerica, MSN, APRN]

Unless she coughed in your face and you inhaled oogles of droplets you are fine. Also like others noted it comes with LTC and most are colonized. No worries...

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

We cannot give medical advice here. I would check with your family doctor if you are worried. You can also check with your employee health to se if they have policies and procedures avaiable and if any follow up would be necessary.

http://www.goapic.org/MRSA.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pustules and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to types of staph that are resistant to a type of antibiotic methicillin. MRSA is often resistant to other antibiotics, as well. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph (meaning that bacteria are present, but not causing an infection with staph), approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.

Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthcare/

It's all around us and is nothing but staph....which you have on your body. It just happends to be resistant to the antibiotic to treat it......we are all exposed to it everyday just being in the facility. My vote ...no biggie, move on.....:)

[Biffbradford]

Long story, but I was hit by a truck while riding my bicycle, spent a week in the hospital, went home then spiked a 104F temp. Septic with MRSA! That bought me another week in the hospital, a PICC line and a long stint of self administered IV Vanco.

Did I get the MRSA from their hospital or from working in mine? We'll never know! (my nares were +)

(it's funny hearing all your visitors complain about what a hassle it is visiting you while in isolation :vlin:)

[nurseryRN14]

Nothing. Most of the patients you will more than likely get will have MRSA and you won't know it for days later. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a pt, only to read their history and see that they should have been on precautions. They aren't the only diseases you will find out about. I was pregnant and didnt get info about a pt that had shingles. Happened to read their history that night and found out the pt had shingles. To make things worse the charge nurse gave me the pt. I told them that I had better not have that pt on my assignment that next day. I was told that the bumps had crusted over. I don't care. I'm not taking care of this person.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

plenty of them have plenty of undiagnosed things i am sure. from mrsa to shingles, tb, etc.