Tips to Prevent MRSA
MRSA is scary stuff. You hear about it all over the national media. Last year we had a few local outbreaks in Philly. And in the past 3 months my Great Aunt in Florida suffered from MRSA for weeks and my neighbor's 6 year old neice also had it.
I admit that my background in the pharmaceutical industry coupled with my borderline hypochondria is a kind of "Perfect Storm" causing all kinds of Parental worries about my kids and my own health. But given the growth of anitbiotic resistance, I think everyone should worry at least a teeny tiny bit about MRSA.
Mom Central shared the below tips about preventing the spread of MRSA from a really informative and helpful website called Stop MRSA NOW. And not to scare you more but check out this factual MRSA info I found on the website.......
"MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of Staph bacteria found on the skin and in the nose that is resistant to antibiotics. More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly MRSA infections every year and in 2005, nearly 19,000 Americans died from MRSA infections. More deaths are linked to MRSA infections than AIDS. "
- Scrub up - Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer.
- Wipe it down - Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect hard surfaces. (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 quart of water)
- Cover your cuts - Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
- Keep to yourself - Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.
- Use a barrier - Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.
posted by Classy Mommy at 10:22 PM
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I'm glad you posted this, Colleen! It's an important topic, and I haven't heard much press on it recently.
I contracted MRSA last October when I was 6 months pregnant, and it was a really scary experience. Not only was I terrified for my unborn baby, but I was so scared I was going to somehow pass it on to one of my other four children.
It's very important to follow the precautions you have listed to prevent the spread of this bacteria, as well as making sure to take all antibiotics prescribed by your doctor exactly as directed. Too many people stop taking them when they start to feel better, but that's what encourages these more resistant strains of bacteria to flourish.
I learned in the NICU that handwashing is so important. It will keep your whole family much more healthy all the time if you just wash your hands regularly!
These are common sense tips and it is a good reminder that people are supposed to do these things for a reason!
Thanks!
The MRSA that the two first posters are referring to is an entirely different type of strain that is found in hospitals. Community acquired MRSA is a different strain, is found in previously healthy individuals who have not been in a hospital setting and presents itself primarily as a soft tissue infection. While handwashing is still the hallmark of prevention, other precautions include covering wounds that have been diagnosed and not sharing towels, washcloths and other clothing items while you have an active CA-MRSA soft tissue infection. Also, when a CA-MRSA infection starts, most people assume it is a spider bite despite the fact that the spider was usually not seen. Those type of wounds need attention quickly.
CA-MRSA is also now showing up in deadly form among children as a secondary pnuemonia in children who have the flu. PLEASE PLEASE vaccinate your children against the flu.
No, actually, I was referring to CA-MRSA. I had not been in a hospital setting, and doctors are unsure how I picked it up.