MRSA question

[strider76]

I'm currently at work and me and some of my night-shift colleagues have a question re: MRSA prevention techniques. First off, note that we are all very used to the idea that we most likely do have MRSA in our nares and so this is not a response to this years 'MRSA scares'.

Several of us, including myself, do have young babies at home. My question is: If I am part of the large percentage of nurses who are positive for MRSA in my nares, how can I stop the spread of it to my 5 month old baby. I am very big on prevention and I shower as soon as I walk in the house, before she ever sees me.....but, as babies do, she often gives me 'kisses' and slobbers on my face and grabs my nose with her little fingers :heartbeat....and I love that time with her...but it does lead me to concerns of her contacting MRSA from my nares....... I know babies are more susceptible............. Any info/ prevention ideas/ ways to eradicate it from my nares? I do typically use a saline nasal flush when I get home........any news if that helps?

Michelle

[HonestRN]

MRSA is not an issue unless it colonizes. Just practice good handwashing and don't pick your nose.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I don't know why you think a large percentage of nurses have MRSA in their noses. In my microbiology class, there was one girl (not a nursing student) who tested positive for MRSA in her nose, and I know several other's (nurses) who took the class that didn't test positive for MRSA. So I think you are worried about something for no reason. Just practice good handwashing. I think you should be more concerned with that shopping cart that you let your daughter ride in, or will be letting her ride in as she get's older.

[ErraticThinker]

good hand washing, alcohol based cleanser like purrell. literally the stuff we're supposed to be doing anyway. cleanse before you go into the room, after you take off your gloves, etc.

most nurses aren't colonized with MRSA.. we joke about it but the studies show its a pretty small number that get colonized.

honestly, best prevention is just doing what you should be doing every time anyway. talk to the occ health people or ID at your hospital, and they'll be able to give you more info.

imo, i think you're freaking out over nothing. just follow the usual precautions.

[graceofone]

Good question but like many others have posted our ID doctor has told us that as long as we take standard precautions and practice good handwashing then it poses no threat to our families. BTW he did say probably every healthcare worker does have MRSA in the nares for those that don't think there is an increased incidence in healthcare workers.

[NightshiftRN69]

I know one doctor who had every member of a family member who had a MRSA boil swab the inside of the nares with neosporin. This added to not sharing towels and such. If you know that you have MRSA in your nares or are just concerned this might be something you want to do along with good hand washing. The biggest thing is treating and preventing any skin openings. This means overly dry skin as well.

You talked about washing as soon as you get home but where are your shoes? I see lots of nurses changing their shoes before leaving for the day. I take this one step further, I change my shoes at my car. I keep a box in the back of my car and change shoes there before going in and when I come out. My work shoes never see the inside of my house.

[strider76]

National averages show that 60% of nurses have colonized MRSA in their nares. The percentage goes up to 90% if theyve been working in a critical care area for several years. When this was first discovered there was mandating for nurses to use bactriban cream in their nares..this is no longer carried out in most facilities

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

The stats show that 40% of us are colonized with staph in our noses, but not necessarily MRSA. We had an outbreak last year of MRSA, and over 200 RNs, MDs, RTs and other staff in our unit were cultured. Only 3 came up positive, and 2 of them had no patient contact whatsoever.