I got MRSA from my JOB

fnlyRNstudent05 · Jan 17, 2006

Gosh that is awful! I am only a student and don't know how common it is to get these infections but I would be upset if I was only handling charts and that was the only contact I had with patients. I understand your concern keep updates on how your doing.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

Last week I went to the hospital because I had a painful infection in my leg...and a couple days later I found out it was MRSA. I work as an unit clerk rotating from floor to floor. So I'm pretty confident I got it from my job. And it bothers me because I feel that I should be wearing gloves to handle these charts. The drs and nurses are in these contact precaution rooms with the chart...handling the chart with dirty gloves on and then hand them to me. I dont know maybe I should have expected this. Is this just a hazard of working in a hospital? Or should I really be P O'd that this happened to me?

Frankly, MRSA is abounding so much in the community nowadays, I wouldn't be too sure that you got it at the hospital.

Sad, but true.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

Last week I went to the hospital because I had a painful infection in my leg...and a couple days later I found out it was MRSA. I work as an unit clerk rotating from floor to floor. So I'm pretty confident I got it from my job. And it bothers me because I feel that I should be wearing gloves to handle these charts. The drs and nurses are in these contact precaution rooms with the chart...handling the chart with dirty gloves on and then hand them to me. I dont know maybe I should have expected this. Is this just a hazard of working in a hospital? Or should I really be P O'd that this happened to me?

Honestly, there's really no guarentee you got it at work. MRSA is everywhere.

traumahawk99 · Jan 17, 2006

it's just a normal job hazard. lots of people have exposure to this stuff, and it's just the nature of working in a hospital. usually, a healthy immune system can handle it. otherwise, everyone in the world would have had it by now.

how many people work in your hospital (a bunch), and how many come down with symptoms like you (very few, fortunately)? i'd ask my doctor about reinfection risks if i were you. good luck.

CarVsTree · Jan 17, 2006

Sorry you got MRSA.

I agree with the previous two posters. MRSA is rampant in the community. I espcially question you getting it at work since I presume your legs are covered. As for wearing gloves to work with charts, I don't see why you couldn't. But good hand washing technique is most effective technique against the spread of germs.

liteskin_qtee · Jan 17, 2006

Thanx for ur replies...I guess u might be right but U know I was freaking out when I found out what it was. But I'm doin much better..they took out my packing and that ended my pain (mostly).

Bird2 · Jan 18, 2006

Had you been on antibiotic therapy often?? It is very, very low risk for a healthy person to get MRSa from a chart. Often people are on repeat antibiotic and become resistant to some of the antibiotics. I feel for you, I had MRSa years ago. It was very upseting to me but remember that it is treatable.

DADENTY · Jan 18, 2006

In the past 6 months I have seen 3 MRSA cases in infected bug bites. Not from the hospital.

ClaireMacl · Jan 18, 2006

I got MRSA when I had an internal fixation, open reduction of my left leg. The nurse walked from one bed to another to inspect the wounds with the same gloves on. I was on so much morphine that although I knew what was happening, I could do nothing about it.

As for your case, well, personally I think it is unlikely. Your legs are likely to be covered during work, esp with a wound. If you go to the loo, you must surely wash your hands. If you hold a chart and were actually concerned about transmittion risks, surely you would wash your hands?

MRSA is everywhere. I'd be less likely to blame your job and more likely to blame further contact with the wound.

liteskin_qtee · Jan 18, 2006

Had you been on antibiotic therapy often?? It is very, very low risk for a healthy person to get MRSa from a chart. Often people are on repeat antibiotic and become resistant to some of the antibiotics. I feel for you, I had MRSa years ago. It was very upseting to me but remember that it is treatable.

You know the PA asked me if I was prone to infection I initially said no..But when I got home I started thinking that I get bladder infections alot and had an absess in a tooth before so maybe its just me. I do appreciate all the replies it eases my mind as I have to return to work on Sat. I reduced my hrs because of school I'm per diem every other weekend now. My next question is should I inform my job?

Undecided7 · Jan 18, 2006

I think as long as the MRSA was treated- I don't see how that would affect work. I do believe you will be colonized with it forever but so are a lot of people. There are people working in the hospital with a lot of other diseases and bugs. If the infection is not active- just try to prevent further infections by washing hands often and keeping hand sanitizer at your desk. Don't wipe your eyes, mouth, face, etc. after handling anything without using it first.