MRSA and nursing

[leahkat81]

Hi everyone I have a question about MRSA. I was recently went to the Dr and asked him to look at a boil I have on my hip. They called back a few days later to tell me that the cultures they took show I have MRSA. I just got accepted I to nursing school and start in January but now I am freaking out wondering how this will affect my career choice! Will I still be able to attend school? Clinicals? Be hired as a nurse? Work in a hospital? I am a 33 yr old single mom of three PLEASE someone...anyone tell me that all the time and money I have invested up to this point has not been a complete waste!

[Larry3373]

MRSA is simply a form of staphylococcus that is resistant to antibiotics, that's all. We naturally have staph on our skin anyway which can sometimes cause an infection if we get cut or a hair follicle gets infected. It simply means that you will likely need a stronger antibiotic like vancomycin or something. A staph infection in no way means that you will not be able to get into nursing school. A few days of antibiotics and you should be fine.

[leahkat81]

The Dr gave me clindamycin and mupirocin. My reaction is due to the fact that when a few people( family and close friend) found out I have MRSA their reactions were all very similar....shock and horror followed by...that sucks for you, I hope this doesn't end your chance to go to nursing school! Then I got all paranoid :)

[caliotter3]

A doctor told me one time that most health care workers are colonized for MRSA, implying that if people could not work in health care with MRSA, there would be very few working in health care.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I think most health care workers could be colonized for MRSA. The biggest location for nurses is the back of the neck from hanging their stethoscope around their neck.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

A doctor told me one time that most health care workers are colonized for MRSA, implying that if people could not work in health care with MRSA, there would be very few working in health care.

Precisely. I was surprised when I tested negative for it (and VRE) when I was hospitalized a few years ago.

OP, you take antibiotics and the infection clears. There is no reason your school or any future employer should or would find out about this.

[leahkat81]

I guess I was worried it would be on the physical assement form my doctor ( the one that diagnosed me with mrsa) has to fill out for the school or that the meds might show up and be questioned on the drug screen.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I guess I was worried it would be on the physical assement form my doctor ( the one that diagnosed me with mrsa) has to fill out for the school or that the meds might show up and be questioned on the drug screen.

Drug screens are to test for illegal substances and potential drugs of abuse. People are on antibiotics for a variety of reasons from acne to prophylaxis to treating infections. I assure you the school cares not if you take an antibiotic for an acute infection.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

The most important thing you can do is go back for a follow-up culture after your treatment is done. A nasal swab is acceptable. You want to clear up the MRSA diagnosis as fast as you can.

It's amazing to me that practitioners don't ever seem to order this simple step for their patients, not even the ID docs. If you come to my facility and have a positive MRSA history but no negative culture, you get treated as if you're actively infected.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The most important thing you can do is go back for a follow-up culture after your treatment is done. A nasal swab is acceptable. You want to clear up the MRSA diagnosis as fast as you can.

It's amazing to me that practitioners don't ever seem to order this simple step for their patients, not even the ID docs. If you come to my facility and have a positive MRSA history but no negative culture, you get treated as if you're actively infected.

When I worked in the hospital patients with a history of MRSA were not cleared until they had 3 negatives from 3 sites- nares, axilla and groin. Rarely was there follow-up done in the community and rarely did the patients WANT that follow-up... a history of MRSA with no negative follow-up cultures guaranteed them a private room.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

When I worked in the hospital patients with a history of MRSA were not cleared until they had 3 negatives from 3 sites- nares, axilla and groin. Rarely was there follow-up done in the community and rarely did the patients WANT that follow-up... a history of MRSA with no negative follow-up cultures guaranteed them a private room.

Over the last few years, the recommended number of negatives has gradually decreased, at least where I practice. It's only been in the last year that we've gone from 2 consecutive to 1.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I'm almost certain your family's reaction had something to do with the news coverage MRSA has gotten. If it makes you feel better, a while back a colleague of mine got it (as a skin infection) at work from a pt's trach secretions. He didn't lose his job--he got workman's comp until he had completed treatment and the sore was gone. I don't even think he had to have negative axilla/groin cultures; it was all about the sore itself and having completed antibiotics.

Hope you feel better soon!