Exposure to CA-MRSA

[TommyLee]

Hi, I am getting really confusing information online about CA-MRSA in particular, and wanted to ask on here for a professional perspective. I hope that is all right. Based on other threads on here I have been reading, you may think I am being paranoid, but I am puzzled based on my research (I have read extensively from the CDC website to NHS website, to scholarly articles, but still I need some clarification from REAL PEOPLE who KNOW this stuff), so I hope some of you can clarify for me. I am not a nurse.

Next week I am going to visit my friend out of state, and we are staying in her dorm/apartment. Our mutual friend is also coming. This mutual friend, I'll call her "Sally", her husband recently had a MRSA infection. She casually mentioned this to me in a text, and mentioned he had it before. At first, I was confused. I thought only people in hospitals contracted MRSA infections, and Sally's husband is a very healthy man in his mid-twenties. Upon researching it, I found out that there was such a thing as CA-MRSA, spread amongst communities with some different properties to HA-MRSA, but largely, they are the same. (Correct me if any of my information is incorrect as I am not at all close to a professional!)

Based on my research, and the fact that Sally's husband has previously been infected, I would deduce that Sally's husband was colonized with CA-MRSA, hence his reinfection. I do not know details about Sally's husband's MRSA condition besides that he has had it before. I don't know if he had it five years ago, ten years ago, or two months ago. I feel it would be very inappropriate of me to ask Sally about the details of her husband's condition. I don't know if he was on antibiotics or what. Sally doesn't seem to know much either. She only mentioned offhand that he was infected, and said she was "freaked out", but didn't seem too concerned.

Furthermore, this leads me to deduce that almost certainly Sally is a MRSA carrier or colonized with CA-MRSA.

Which makes me worry that I will become a MRSA carrier when I stay with her in our mutual friend's apartment area. We will be sharing a bathroom and room which we sleep in. I'm not sure the exact arrangements yet, but I know that much. From my understanding, MRSA spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact and contact with items MRSA-colonized individuals touch/use. I am terrified of becoming colonized with CA-MRSA as my little sister, whom I live with and share a bedroom with at home, is somewhat immunocompromised.

Is it inevitable if I go that I will become colonized with MRSA? I purchased Hibiclens from CVS and plan to wash my hands with it often and bathe with it. I know to wash my hands often in general, and use hand sanitizer too. I also know to wipe down high touch surfaces with Lysol or Clorox wipes or spray. I know to wear flip flops in the shower and cover open wounds. I know not to share any personal items such as towels, hairbrushes, makeup, bed linens, clothes, etc. But, I just don't want to freak out my friends, especially Sally. I don't want to offend her by acting like I'm shunning her or treating her like a Biblical-leaper. I really want to go on this trip. We've had it planned for months, but I'm mortified to become a MRSA carrier. I would never want to make Sally feel unwelcome either.

Is there anything more I can do? Is it guaranteed (almost) I'll become colonized under these circumstances? Sorry for the long winded post, I'm just really worried and a bit confused about just how contagious CA-MRSA colonized people are. When they say skin-to-skin contact, is it so simple as if I hug Sally I am colonized? If I touch Sally's arm, am I colonized? Or is it if I hug Sally and don't wash my hands, then rub my eye, type of thing? Can Hibiclens help prevent colonization?

[*=center]TL; DR: I'm spending three nights in a hotel-type atmosphere with a colonized CA-MRSA person. What are the chances I become colonized myself?

[Sour Lemon]

Hi, I am getting really confusing information online about CA-MRSA in particular, and wanted to ask on here for a professional perspective. I hope that is all right. Based on other threads on here I have been reading, you may think I am being paranoid, but I am puzzled based on my research (I have read extensively from the CDC website to NHS website, to scholarly articles, but still I need some clarification from REAL PEOPLE who KNOW this stuff), so I hope some of you can clarify for me. I am not a nurse.

Next week I am going to visit my friend out of state, and we are staying in her dorm/apartment. Our mutual friend is also coming. This mutual friend, I'll call her "Sally", her husband recently had a MRSA infection. She casually mentioned this to me in a text, and mentioned he had it before. At first, I was confused. I thought only people in hospitals contracted MRSA infections, and Sally's husband is a very healthy man in his mid-twenties. Upon researching it, I found out that there was such a thing as CA-MRSA, spread amongst communities with some different properties to HA-MRSA, but largely, they are the same. (Correct me if any of my information is incorrect as I am not at all close to a professional!)

Based on my research, and the fact that Sally's husband has previously been infected, I would deduce that Sally's husband was colonized with CA-MRSA, hence his reinfection. I do not know details about Sally's husband's MRSA condition besides that he has had it before. I don't know if he had it five years ago, ten years ago, or two months ago. I feel it would be very inappropriate of me to ask Sally about the details of her husband's condition. I don't know if he was on antibiotics or what. Sally doesn't seem to know much either. She only mentioned offhand that he was infected, and said she was "freaked out", but didn't seem too concerned.

Furthermore, this leads me to deduce that almost certainly Sally is a MRSA carrier or colonized with CA-MRSA.

Which makes me worry that I will become a MRSA carrier when I stay with her in our mutual friend's apartment area. We will be sharing a bathroom and room which we sleep in. I'm not sure the exact arrangements yet, but I know that much. From my understanding, MRSA spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact and contact with items MRSA-colonized individuals touch/use. I am terrified of becoming colonized with CA-MRSA as my little sister, whom I live with and share a bedroom with at home, is somewhat immunocompromised.

Is it inevitable if I go that I will become colonized with MRSA? I purchased Hibiclens from CVS and plan to wash my hands with it often and bathe with it. I know to wash my hands often in general, and use hand sanitizer too. I also know to wipe down high touch surfaces with Lysol or Clorox wipes or spray. I know to wear flip flops in the shower and cover open wounds. I know not to share any personal items such as towels, hairbrushes, makeup, bed linens, clothes, etc. But, I just don't want to freak out my friends, especially Sally. I don't want to offend her by acting like I'm shunning her or treating her like a Biblical-leaper. I really want to go on this trip. We've had it planned for months, but I'm mortified to become a MRSA carrier. I would never want to make Sally feel unwelcome either.

Is there anything more I can do? Is it guaranteed (almost) I'll become colonized under these circumstances? Sorry for the long winded post, I'm just really worried and a bit confused about just how contagious CA-MRSA colonized people are. When they say skin-to-skin contact, is it so simple as if I hug Sally I am colonized? If I touch Sally's arm, am I colonized? Or is it if I hug Sally and don't wash my hands, then rub my eye, type of thing? Can Hibiclens help prevent colonization?

[*=center]TL; DR: I'm spending three nights in a hotel-type atmosphere with a colonized CA-MRSA person. What are the chances I become colonized myself?

Hi TommyLee,

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any medical advice on this site. It's simply a site for nurses to chat with other nurses. You should direct your questions to your health care provider.

Happy travels.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

As mentioned in previous post we are unable to offer medical advice. Closing thread. Suggest chatting face to face with your PCP