Worried sick that I may have caught MRSA?

Nurses General Nursing

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I love nursing but I'm a bit OCD and a germaphobic. While at work tonight, I was visiting one of my favorite clients and so a bump on his arm that was a little open but barely. I asked what was that and he rubbed his hand acrossed it and said he forgot. When I got ready to leave He then told me his remote wasn't working. I took the remote with bare hands and fixed it. Then I saw cream on his chest and it was Mupirocin so I was like omg he has MRSA and the. Soon as I got ready to leave he told me he had MRSA. They was no sign on his door. I checked his records and sure enough he was confirmed to have it in the 17th. Now I'm so nervous and afraid. What do I do?

Has this happened to you?
Had to get serial tested for TB for a year after caring for a patient for a month who was not dx with TB until after d/c.
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Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.
Had to get serial tested for TB for a year after caring for a patient for a month who was not dx with TB until after d/c.

Me too, I was so excited, I love going to get the ppd read on my day off....... although the first test I was able to use for my yearly one to get completed at the agency I was working with as well

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Has this happened to you?

It happened to me......and it was confirmed. I'm still negative.

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Wrong topic post.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I was because I was doing a double and working that unit. Didn't think I had to include every single detail. I noticed ppl on this site pick every single word that someone says and multiply it.

Are you saying you looked up this information because it was pertinent to his care or because you were concerned about your interaction with the patient? Is Bactroban an appropriate treatment for cutaneous MRSA infection? It's not so I have some doubts it was in his record that he was being treated with it for this reason.

I am really not trying to pick every single word, I am expressing concern at a lack of basic nursing judgement and understanding. I really don't mean to offend you but I would expect a nurse to know that Bactroban isn't used to treat an active cutaneous MRSA infection.

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Are you saying you looked up this information because it was pertinent to his care or because you were concerned about your interaction with the patient? Is Bactroban an appropriate treatment for cutaneous MRSA infection? It's not so I have some doubts it was in his record that he was being treated with it for this reason.

I am really not trying to pick every single word, I am expressing concern at a lack of basic nursing judgement and understanding. I really don't mean to offend you but I would expect a nurse to know that Bactroban isn't used to treat an active cutaneous MRSA infection.

I'm saying what the hell does that have to do with the topic.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I'm saying what the hell does that have to do with the topic.

Well, in your OP you said:

Then I saw cream on his chest and it was Mupirocin so I was like omg he has MRSA
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Specializes in Pediatric Specialty RN.

I don't know - at our hospital they don't even put any contact precautions on MRSA patients. Just standard precautions. So I wouldn't worry. I WOULD however (and I say this as a person with a history of OCD - but not of the germ worry variety) make sure that you are treating your anxiety and health related OCD issues. Healthcare seems like a downright hellish place to be if you are a germaphobe as nasty bugs are all over the place. Standard hand hygiene and nursing judgment should protect you from a lot but....

As far as looking up info on a patient that isn't ours...even if on the same floor...would be a major no no.

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Well, in your OP you said:

I know what I said, the point is you are fixated on that particular quote.

Most commonly that cream is used for staph infection..its okay to assume.

I know not to go into client's chart I don't care for. But if I'm doing a double and working with this client I'm doing his treatment, helping and caring for him to my full potential, I'm going to SEE IT !!

Is that a problem? I have completely moved on from this topic and post. I'm not going to post every little detail, as to why, when and how. That will take me entirely all day long. Yes, you read and take what you want from it and then make a big deal out of it. Let it go!! he was my patient, I looked through his chart!1 why do I have to explain everything else?

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I don't know - at our hospital they don't even put any contact precautions on MRSA patients. Just standard precautions. So I wouldn't worry. I WOULD however (and I say this as a person with a history of OCD - but not of the germ worry variety) make sure that you are treating your anxiety and health related OCD issues. Healthcare seems like a downright hellish place to be if you are a germaphobe as nasty bugs are all over the place. Standard hand hygiene and nursing judgment should protect you from a lot but....

As far as looking up info on a patient that isn't ours...even if on the same floor...would be a major no no.

Thx, but he was my patient. I didn't look at his chart then, but when I rotated back to that floor. I had a treatment to do for him and it stated what his cream was for.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I'm saying what the hell does that have to do with the topic.

What do you mean 'what .. does that have to do with the topic'? It's literally the basis for your whole post that you are concerned you have MRSA from indirect contact with a patient you (incorrectly) assumed had MRSA because they were on Bactroban.

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What do you mean 'what .. does that have to do with the topic'? It's literally the basis for your whole post that you are concerned you have MRSA from indirect contact with a patient you (incorrectly) assumed had MRSA because they were on Bactroban.

What I won't allow though, is some of you taking a tidbit of the topic and making it directly about that.

Was that the header? no, did I asked was bactroban used for? no. I was talking about MRSA. All that other stuff, I'm not continuing to address. But my assumption was right.

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