Please reassure me !! DH has MRSA (before i start googleing)

[3cutedarlings]

My DH had had numerous issue with one of his ears, he can rarely hear out it!! but until last week he had not bothered to go to the GPs about it!! (typical feckin man!! ) Last week he finally went to see the doctor, who gave him AnitBs and took some blood.

DH has just rang me, he has had a call from GP how wants him to go in and pick up a script for an 10 day corse of antiBs cos he has MRSA. He didnt mention to her the we have 3 young DCs!! (me and the kids are at a different surgery) DS is only 11 weeks and co sleeps with us for part of the night EVERY night!. Im sure that everything is fine, but the only thing i know about it is that its a really nasty infection, has anyone else had it? did you need to stay away from the DC?

Cant believe that he never even thought to ask if it can effect the kids .

bump

one last try.

It's fine! It's only a problem if you or your DCs have open wounds. It's a very high chance that you DH infected himself (about 30% of us carry it in our noses).

hello, i am no expert however MRSA lives in the nasal passages of the majority of the population...you may have it in yours.

MRSA is only a problem when it inhabits and overruns in areas that are prone to infection so wounds etc.

It is resistant to most abs, yes, but not to some.
So can be treated.

Hope this reassures you.

Hope it clears up for him soon. Sounds a bit sore

sorry, not the majority BUT in allot of the general population...did say i was no expert.

when my dad was in hospital one of the docs said that pretty much everyone carries the mrsa virus, but it only becomes a problem if immunity is low or there are open wounds..or both i would imagine

Absolutely everyone has the "SA" bit of MRSA on their skin, it is normal skin flora. The MR stands for Methicillin (an antibiotic) Reisistant - about a third of the population have "SA" (staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria) that is resistant to Methicillin and other antibiotics.

Your husband no doubt has been touching his ear and if he carries MRSA he has probably infected himself or he could have picked it up from his environment.

It is more of a problem in hospitals as people in hospitals are unwell, have weak immune systems, have open wounds - all reasons for it's ability to spread so easily.

The best thing you, your children and your husband can do is to wash your hands thoroughly.

He has been in agony with it, on and off for months .

Thing is DHs Mum has Lung cancer and started a course of chemo last friday he has been to see her twice over the weekend .

My dfil had it few weeks ago.He did have to strip bed and put fresh sheets on every day for a week,well at least dmil did.All gone after a week of that and antibiotics.

Does your MIL have any open wounds? Including the small puncture wounds from any IV access (to administer her chemo). The MRSA needs a route of entry. On the skin, up the nose it will do no harm to the carrier, it's when it gets into a place it shouldn't like a wound, or a tracheostomy tube that it causes problems.

domesticallychallenged

Yes MIL will have open wounds, the chemo was administered via a canular, DH is going to mention all this btw when he goes into collect the script.

Is is actually direct contact that spreads it or is it air born.

Thankfully DHs family are not the huggy type so he wont have have any direct contact.

Yes I think that's wise, he needs to seek some medical advice regarding visiting his mum. It may be that he is advised not to visit her until he has completed the ABs - sorry you probably don't want to hear that

It is spread mainly by direct contact but the problem is it can survive in the environment so if someone has it, touches something someone else can then pick it up and pass it on if you see what I mean.

OMG just noticed this is you, read the whole thing first, you OK? ring if you need me.

It might also be worth informing the people caring for your MIL about your DH if he has visited her over the weekend. I don't want to scare you and I'm not suggesting she def is going to get it but it might just be worth them taking a note of it so that if she gets for example an inflamed IV site they will know about the MRSA and could test for it straight away. They may swab her as a precaution any way.

I really don't want to scare you. Your husband having MRSA and your MIL undergoing chemo is significant but not cause to panic. Just let the right people know. Hope that helps

Is it reassuring to know that I've worked with a child who is MRSA positive for over 5 years now and never contracted it myself nor have any of the other staff who've worked with the child?

Thanks again,

DH is now home, he spoke to the GP when he collected the script, he has been advised to keep contact with DC to a minimum and stay away from his Mum until the doc gives him the all clear. He goes back on thursday to see if he need any other AntiBS.

domesticallychallenged i have spoken with MIL and she is going to contact her consultant tomorrow morning, thank you so much for your advice.

You're welcome, I hope it clears up soon and you can get back to normal. It sounds as if his mum needs you all at this time. xx

My father had it in his seventies. My mother didn't catch it and she was changing the dressings. She is an old-school nurse and hygiene is her middle name, though.

Tea tree oil works against MRSA. So is Manuka honey. You could make a handwash with some drops of teatree in liquid soap if it would put your mind at rest.

Hello,

First of all, please try not to panic! Easier said than done, I know. I don't have anything new to add, but just wanted to reassure you that it honestly doesn't need to be a big deal.

I have MRSA in my chest - I have a lung condition similar to CF so I'm particularly vulnerable to chest infections, and numerous courses of antibiotics haven't eradicated it. Interestingly, despite having it for years, my DH has not picked it up and every swab done on him is negative.

I don't tend to tell people, as they do panic (although I do tell friends who happen to be health professionals so that they can make their own decisions and get themselves swabbed if being positive would put others at risk) but I just ensure I take sensible precautions to keep others safe. I have a friend who is currently undergoing chemo so I do tend to keep my distance, and avoid any direct contact. If your husband has let the hospital staff know then they can swab your MIL or respond appropriately should she start to become unwell. I keep my distance from anyone very old or very, very young, just because their immune systems are not as strong, and pregnant women in the later stages, but other than that I just take very good normal precautions, including washing my hands obsessively, and making sure all coughs are well covered (not an issue with an ear infection!).

Do hope your DH is soon feeling better.