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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Colleagues impetigo

66 replies

Cakeandcustard123 · 05/12/2019 19:06

Last week my colleague had a sore on her chin. It started off looking like quite an angry spot but then spread and looked very angry and inflamed. We encouraged her to go see her GP necause it looked really sore, which she did yesterday. GP has said its impetigo and has seemingly given her some cream. My concern is that she keeps rubbing this cream into her chin whilst sat at her desk but then not washing her hands afterwards. I don't know how to handle this. She's such a sensitive soul and I'm sure she's already feeling really self conscious about her chin. I've tried saying "oh try not to touch it you might infect it or make it sore" etc but it hasnt helped. If I go to HR it will be pretty obvious someone has complained about her and I dont want any awkwardness, but I really really don't want to catch it. Am I being a bit precious? Has anyone ever actually caught impetigo from a surface such as a door handle or something? Tell me I'm not going to get it!!

OP posts:

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 05/12/2019 21:20

It's infectious because it's usually caused by staph aureus which survives really well on surfaces so gets transferred around really easily. I'd speak to HR, and use alcohol handgel and avoid touching your skin in the meantime!

HavelockVetinari · 05/12/2019 21:20

It is very contagious, please get in touch with her manager and pass on the NHS advice. Although it might be too late by now...

managedmis · 05/12/2019 21:21

I'm sorry but that fucking gross. Was she born yesterday?

managedmis · 05/12/2019 21:22

I'd get some Fucidin just in case

carly2803 · 05/12/2019 21:24

she should not be in! its highly contagious and vile (ive had it)!

AngusThermopyle · 05/12/2019 21:31

I had it as a teen, it's very much infectious and I was off school for two weeks.
I agree with pp that it should maybe be a managerial issue rather than you mentioning it.

phlebasconsidered · 05/12/2019 21:41

If it gets in my classroom it's rife. Kids have to be off until it's scabbed over or it is very infectious. I use a LOT of sanitiser.

Molly2016 · 05/12/2019 22:00

Why is she at work?!
My colleague had it on her face and it was the first time our boss didn’t get the arse for someone being off work sick.
When she came back it had completely dried out, although was still visible. I can’t believe she’s at work, never mind anything else.
Talk to your boss.

Fishcakey · 05/12/2019 22:18

I had it when I was 18 and we were very clean and my mum caught it and had it all over her arms. It's super contagious. It clears up amazingly quickly with the ointment though.

Original poster

Cakeandcustard123 · 05/12/2019 22:40

All these horror stories are making me want to call in sick tomorrow so I don't have to expose myself to it! 🙈 Sounds like it really is very contagious after all. 20% of people still think I'm being unreasonable mind according to the poll 😂 Thanks everyone I'll definitely be taking extra extra extra precautions now (that's if it's not too late!)

OP posts:

raspberrymolakoff · 05/12/2019 23:01

I wish someone medical would come along and clarify this. Here is my penny worth. As the NHS link a pp posted says it's an infection which is contagious. Not infectious. I've always struggled to know the difference. It's not airborne I don't think, you'd have to touch her or something she has recently touched after touching it. I have found it does pass quickly between children, who are naturally not very hygienic, but we have managed not to pass it round the family before.

When I was a child it was a real taboo, associated, as it was with dirt and poverty. I remember being told not to tell anyone I had it and being kept off school.

These days it's usually easily dealt with by application of an anti-biotic cream like fucidin. Maybe you could buy some hand cleanser and keep it on your desk then use it often after you've touched things like door handles/desks?

Beckyboom · 06/12/2019 07:01

My son had impetigo - official guideline says you can return to work/school 48 hours after starting treatment but our GP advised us to use separate towels, bedding etc for a week.

Original poster

Cakeandcustard123 · 06/12/2019 08:36

I've come in early and used antibacterial wipes over everything including her desk and door handles, cupboards, telephones, the toilet etc so hopefully that will be enough to stop the rest of us catching it. Thanks everyone x

OP posts:

AtrociousCircumstance · 06/12/2019 09:32

Well that’s ok (although it’s grim you had to do that) but she’ll just spread it around again won’t she? She really needs to be told I’m afraid.

BreatheAndFocus · 06/12/2019 10:09

I’d tell her manager in confidence. Not in a bitchy way, in a sympathetic way, but she shouldn’t be at work. She probably doesn’t realise this, so a quiet word from her manager would alert her without embarrassing her or anyone else.

Impetigo is horribly contagious.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 06/12/2019 10:41

Infectious and contagious are almost the same thing, but not quite.

Contagious diseases are spread by contact, while infectious diseases are spread by infectious agents. So think of a Cold, thats contagious AND infectious, but food poisoning is infectious as you catch that from food contaminated by bacteria, and not from shaking someone hand. I'm not a doctor btw, but a microbiologist.

does that help @raspberrymolakoff?? No its not airbourne, you're right about it being spread by touch.

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