Hospital Infections

[sassie23]

Anyone planning any precautions against hospital bugs while they are in? Lots on the news this morning about MRSA etc so it got me thinking...

anyone??

I took precations... had a home birth!

I had two home births. But my first was born in hospital and I didn't pick up any nasty infections.

I have 2 big packets of dettol anti-bacterial wipes in my hospital bag, and I'll be cleaning toilet seat/handle, taps, sink, shower controls and shower head (on every occasion I use them if I'm not lucky enough to get one of the single rooms with facilities). And also the surfaces of my locker/table.

I'm having a section and am concerned about infection issues. At home it's your own dirt, to which you should have some immunity but you just do not know what you (or your wound) will be exposed to in shared facilities and my hosp does not routinely screen women for things like strep b the way some places do.

good idea will buy some today although last time shared bathroom had cleaning stuff in it foryou to use

brill idea! didn't think to take dettol wipes.

Make sure all nurses/doctors etc wash their hands immediately before touching you or your baby.

Yes Butterbur, and visitors too!

It is impossible to prevent. I got MRSA after my EMCS and subsequent re-suturing.

If youre having a section its very difficult to police who is touching you and whether theyre clean enough. Also whether the theatre is cleaned properly etc etc.

You are as likely to get MRSA from a straightoforward vaginal delivery as you are from anything else (buying a coffee in the canteen etc).

Hospitals are fucking stinking dirty hovels, unless you go private.
Ive just been screened again for MRSA before admission to private hosp next week

Mosschops, sadly yes impossible to prevent ALL CASES of hospital acquired infection, but simple measures such as anti-bac wipes and pointedly asking people to wash their hands in your sight will prevent many cases so it'sworth a try. As is trying for an early discharge from hospital (less time, less exposure).

Unfortunately I'm stuck with the stinking hovel as there are no private hospitals here which will do sections (fairly rural Scotland). attended for pre-op checks yesterday and was not at all impressed by the lack of hygiene in the room I was in. visible dust on bed frame, some surfaces and grotty marks on door/door handles and desk area. The FLOOR was clean but that's not what I'm likely to come into contact with........

Somewhat nervous about my Friday am admission.

sorry oldmum i didnt realise your section was imminent.
I have been told that possible reasons for my MRSA was my prolonged time on antibiotics, the fact that i went to theatre twice thereby increasing my chances and also that I am staff so more likely to carry it on my skin anyway.

Wishing you lots of luck, and dont forget millions of people go in and out of hospital for sections without getting an infection, you just hear about the ones that do

it not you that's worrying me MOSSCHOPS - it's what I've seen with my own eyes! I know many people carry various nasty bugs with no harm to themselves, but it's just amazing that testing varies so much from hospital to hospital and that actual cleaning seems to be such a low priority when it's such simple thing. Yes I know chances are I'll be fine even if I contract an infection, but who needs that extra stress on top of trying to heal and having a baby to care for?

Yes i understand, the MRSA made my recovery so much slower, I still couldnt walk 2 months after the birth due to the pain it was causing, and it was almost 4 months before I was given the all clear.
It makes me really angry when I see people cutting corners in work, I wear gloves and put on a gown whatever Im doing to protect myself and my patient, some people just dont seem to care though, where I gave birth was just so dirty with facilities lacking, its like giving birth in a third world country

moss - how did you know you had mrsa and how quickly was it picked up and treated?

ok be prepared, you may wish you hadnt asked

After my re-suturing disaster I went home on day5.
Went back in day 11 to have clips removed, and day 13 to have the rest removed.
Started having very bad pain in scar area and went to GP who diagnosed a uterine infection and gave me antibiotics.
Two days later noticed lump under scar, went to hospital maternity unit who said it was fine, probably a haematoma.
Went back again in agony and they agreed to scan it, again they said it was haematoma.
Went back again with small leakage of fluid, they said it was fine and would heal.
Two days later scar came open in two places to let out a huge pool of puss.
Back into hospital where they took a swab and dressed it badly, so I ended up dressing it myself daily at home.
Went back to hospital where they told me swab was fine

Mid January I found out by accident that I had MRSA. DS2 was born in November so thats how long the fucking incompetence lasted and have had nothing to do with them since (apart from through solicitor), I now see a gynae privately.

I wasnt clear of MRSA until March so 4 months after ds2 birth

Sorry I did warn you!

MRSA can't live on hard surfaces, it's spread through skin contact, so don't worry too much about wiping down surfaces, unless it just makes you feel better generally. Just make sure you keep washing your hands and anyone else who comes in does the same.

If you know when you are going to be admitted then you can be screened for MRSA prior to admission. If you do have a MRSA colonisation (which many of us do and would never know about!) you can then be treated prior to admission to reduce the chance of developing a MRSA blood stream infection (which is the type that causes probems).

Otherwise good hand hygiene for yourself, staff and all visitors is the best way to protect yourself.

However please don't worry yourself unduely about contracting an MRSA infection. Numbers are at they're lowest level ever (991 in England for the period Aug 2010-Aug 2011 see here. It is therefore sensible to take precautions but it you would have to be very unfortunate to catch it.

Also don't kid yourself that you are any safer in a private hospital. Private hospitals do not yet have to submit to mandatory surveillance so it is not possible to know exactly how many MRSA bloodstream infections originate from that sector. However I know from experience that it is not zero.

As far as I know MRSA can be spread through dust/ hard surfaces as well as skin to skin contact.

Twice I have complained in private hospitals about the dust on bedframes/ tablelamp so dont be too complacent if you go private.

I take flash/ dettol wipes too.

mosschops that sounds bloody awful, you must have been in agony.

hey moss - sorry you went through such a shite time soon after your baby was born. hope the infection didn't cause any other problems. ta for sharing.