Policy regarding Kangaroo care/Breastfeeding and MRSA

[BeccaNICU-RN]

Hi all, just wondering what most NICU's policies are concerning Kangaroo Care and/or breastfeeding when infant is in MRSA isolation.

Thanks!

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

No ISO policies at all for families :-( (except if its protective for neutropenia or something like that) it's pretty redic because the families all use the same waiting room/rest room and I'm sure when our numbers jump it's because of that.

And in an inner-city hospital i'm sure there are families bringing it in as well

[hikernurse]

Parents don't have to gown for any isolation precautions, so kangaroo care is not contraindicated for our patients. I think it would be safer if they had to gown since families also frequent the same cafeteria, etc. that we do...

[AnonRNC]

Parents are required to gel in and out of the baby's (private) room. They are not to use unit common areas (like the nourishment room - so we fetch ice water for the moms). They are also not supposed to use hospital common areas, such as the cafeteria, but we do not police that.

At one time, we had them go through some elaborate process before and after KC, but our head ID doctor nixed that.

We have private rooms that include a restroom.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Parents don't have to gown for any isolation precautions, so kangaroo care is not contraindicated for our patients. I think it would be safer if they had to gown since families also frequent the same cafeteria, etc. that we do...

Same here. And this is why it is now community acquired and I doubt it's from the hospital, anymore.

[hikernurse]

Same here. And this is why it is now community acquired and I doubt it's from the hospital, anymore.

It's nuts. We dress in full regalia to hand babies to parents who hold them up to their clothes (or under with kangaroo care) with their bare hands and then head to the cafeteria for a meal...and conceivably the grocery store, etc. I'm definitely more worried about picking it up from the community than I ever am in my unit.

And on a somewhat related and sort of amusing note, it always seems to be the parents with MRSA, etc. babies who bring in treats to the nurses .