MRSA teating

[jammiedodger2]

Hello
I'm new to mumsnet and also pregnant again after a 7 year break.
i'm about 13 weeks and met my Midwife last week who has told me that because I work for the NHS I have to be tested for MRSA after I finish work and before I have the baby. If I test positive (1 in 3 people do, in the general population not just NHS staff) I will have to be treated before I can go into hospital.
Am feeling a bit stroppy about this as if I didn't work for the NHS I wouldn't be tested and if you are a healthy person, carrying MRSA is completely safe and I don't really want to face extra anti-biotics when I am pregnant for the sake of it.
Has anyone else come across this?
am I just being hormonal?

I don't work for the NHS and I was tested for MRSA at 36 weeks (am having a c-sect tomorrow at 38+2). My test came back neg but I was told that if it was positive, all I'd have to do was take a special bath at home with prescribed treatment - no mention of taking anti-biotics orally. All th test involved was swabs from my cheek, nose and groin, v quick and totally painless. I can see why you might be annoyed but it's really not a v invasive thing, imho.

Why feel stroppy about it? If you work in a hospital you should know better .

Most trusts do routine tests for MRSA now anyway, especially as the very nature of childbirth is messy and especially if you are going to be having an op or an open wound.

If it comes back pos they just give you the scrub to kill the bacteria on the skins surface, hibi scrub I think I recall.

It's all about reducing risk to you and baby, and others in hospital, don't know why you are so funny about it. It's well known hospital workers are more likely to be carriers of MRSA anyway.

you wouldn't be treated with antibiotics anyway - just wash stuff, nose cream and powder.

no need to be stroppy - the risk is that if you are carrying it and then you need surgery it may get into the wound causig no end of bother.

just safety.

I don't work in a hospital, haven't for 7 years, just work for the NHS.
My midwife didn't know what the treatment was if I was positive and last time I treated someone for MRSA was over 10 years ago so I am hopelessly out of date.
Also because it's been a while since I was last pregnant it was new to me, hence the post
If it's just hibiscrub I don't mind being tested it's the neomycin nasal stuff that I have concerns about.

I will apparently be swabbed for MRSA before being admitted for my ELCS. There are notices up in my hosp saying all those admitted to hospital should be tested for it, so I think it's pretty standard.