Health and Psychology

The staff member was whispering as she handed me the chart.  "You're next patient says he has MRSA."  

"Okay, I know all about that.  It's a bacterial infection that's resistent to Methicillin-Methicillin Resistent Staph Aureous.  My husband got infected after his hip was replaced.  He's fine now.  He is still classified as a carrier, but because he didn't have a skin infection and he doesn't test positive, he's not at all contagious.  The next patient is probably just a carrier.  That would be 30% of the population and most hospital workers and nursing staff.  It's not a big deal. Stop worrying."

The patient came in and clarified that they carry MRSA and have had skin lesions in the past.  They are far more communicable than someone infected in hospitals following surgery.  They still test positive by nose swab.  As long as I'm not in direct contact with any skin lesion, or bodily fluids I'm unlikely to contract any infection from them.  After seeing the patient I wash my hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer and go on with my day.

There is a lot of misinformation about the various types of MRSA.  Hospital acquired infections are often quite serious.  People are usually sick when they go into the hospital and have weakened immune systems.  The infection is transmitted from one infected patient to another due to poor universal precautions by doctors, nurses, hospital staff and visitors failing to wash their hands, wear gloves, and disinfect materials people come in contact with while coming into direct contact with open wounds.  Community acquired infections are becoming more common.  These are skin infections that look like bug or spider bites and often reoccur.  Because they are on the skin, they are more easy to transmit onto surfaces.  They are treated with special antibacterial soap and antibiotics designed to treat the specific strains of staph.  Surfaces need to be disinfected. There are multiple strains of staph infection and they have various levels of communicability. The bacteria that causes the infection needs to be transmitted by contact directly or through a shared surface or from infected bodily fluids. 

Staph infections can be transmitted to animals as well as to people.  Our two Dalmatians, Cinnamon and Baxter, contracted MRSA after coming into contact with soiled linens while my husband was unknowingly infected and had been sent home from the hospital.  It took three months to clear the MRSA from the dogs.  It shortened their lives and resulted in complications of long term immune problems.  The vet that treated them used bleach on the floor of the clinic after they were seen, and used a room away from the other animals.  After they were cleared of the infection and their nasal swabs came back negative they were declared infection free.  Baxter died of recurrent prostate infections (unrelated to staph) and granulomas disease.  Cinnamon developed diabetes insipidus, and had a massive stroke.   Long term infections-infections that remain untreated or inadequately treated in the body damage the immune system.  It's why cavities and tooth infections result in heart attacks, strokes, and other medical problems.

There is no reason for people to be hysterical about MRSA or MRSA carriers.  If you have a community acquired infection make sure you use precautions to not infect others.  Wash materials you come into contact with that others might use like towels and linens.  Change and wash clothing regularly.  Wash your hands.  Follow doctor's instructions regarding clearing the infection.  If you have an active infection seek treatment from an infectious disese specialist.  Avoid contact with people known to have weakened immune systems, such as people undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or those testing positive for HIV.  If you have a hospital acquired infection that is not a skin infection, be sure your medical providers know so they can monitor you for possible skin infections.  They also need to monitor your immune system because it's possible you may be more at risk for other illnesses as a result of long term infection.