Catching MRSA..

[EricaSAFJAF]

I am soon to be in nursing school and just wondering if any others nurses worry about catching things like MRSA, or other various diseases...I'm not even in nursing school yet so my info is limited lol...My grandmother was in the hospital and developed MRSA...I visited her everyday and they made it seem like we weren't at risk of catching it if we followed certain percautions.

But when I start to think about all the things I will be exposed to, I get curious on how likely is it I will catch something? Thanks ladies!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

I'd only worry if you have a compromised immune system and you don't like washing your hands

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. We had a massive outbreak on our unit last year, and when they cultured the nurses, our colonization rates were actually lower than the estimate for the general population. Just wash your hands.

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

Only one student in the nursing class prior to mine caught MRSA. She was just treated with antibiotics. No one in my nursing class ever came down with it. I think you would be fine if you remember to wash your hands plenty and change your gloves often. :)

[Angel@MyTable, RN]

I've been in the business as a CNA for just over 15 years, and I can't tell you how many times I have been exposed to MRSA.

I took Microbiology Spring '07 and everyone cultured themselves for MRSA. Out of 15 students, only 2 had MRSA, and I wasn't one of them!

I can tell you that GOOD handwashing (with soap) should help keep those pesky bacteria from invading your body!