Any midwives or dr's that could advise please

[aprilmeadow]

Wasnt totally sure where i should place this request, so apologies if this is the wring one.

I am 36wks pg and have a tricky problem that i need some advice on. My Grandad is in hospital having had an op on his throat following having his voice box removed due to the C word. I found out yesterday that he has yet again contracted MRSA. This wouldnt be so bad, but he is having to come and stay with my Dad for a week around the time that i am due. I know that it can take a long while to get clear test results (he didnt get to meet my ds until he was 3mths old as he also had mrsa then)and there is also the fact that i may go overdue, but what are /are there any risks to either the baby or myself i we were to see him. My gut is telling me NO WAY but i just wanted to get a professional opinion. Also, if we should not see him, how will that effect us seeing my dad, brother and sister, as they will be living in the same house where g'dad will be staying.

I just need to know how safe it is really and whether i have to say 'well if you see g'dad and the baby has been born then you cant come and visit'.

I hope i have made some sense....

I'm not a midwife or doctor, but I think the major risk of contracting MRSA is to do with open wounds - if a doctor or nurse touches someone with an open wound then touches someone else without washing their hands first. Or touches surfaces that someone else then touches. If everyone washes their hands, should be fine. And should be even more fine given I guess family are unlikely to be playing with his operation site or dressings?

My g'dad has to have his wound cleaned several times a day, and i guess that would be my dad having to do it for him. My dad and grandad also suffer from psoriasis (sp?) which i guess are wounds....

Try NHS direct website or google MRSA transmission or hospitals and handwashing. You might get more info. You don't actually know if he'll contract MRSA though, not everyone who goes into hospital does!

Info here: www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-470.jsp#2

It says healthy people are not usually at risk of MRSA infection, and lists the type of people most at risk:

The risk of contracting MRSA is increased in:

• Patients with chronic ill-health such as diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS and any other illness that weakens the immune system.
• Seriously injured patients and post-operative patients.
• Patients with any breaks in the skin: o Wounds (particularly deep or open wounds), surgical wounds o Intravenous drip sites o Urinary catheters o Burns
• Patients with severe skin conditions like leg ulcers or psoriasis.
• Patients on frequent courses of antibiotics.

So your dad is at risk but you are not.

Thanks ladies.
LE - that explains why he has contracted it again then as he has Cancer.