Help! Staph Infection Sanitizing!

AbbiDawnsMama

My DH just called from the steel mill he works at to tell me that there is a staph infection going around the mill. DD is 3mo and I'm not entirely sure what I need to do to sanitize my home to kill any bacteria that may have been carried in. I use Lysol disinfecting spray and wipes (almost) daily, but I feel like there is more I should be doing to clean this place so she doesn't contract anytihng! Do I need to go as far as bleaching out all of our sheets and pillow cases and anything else I can find? I don't know much about staph infections, and when he called me I panicked and turned to you mommies to help!

laineybix

Staph is everywhere. It lives in, on, around your body and home the majority of the time. Your body's immune system can usually deal with it if you are healthy. No need for extra steps aside from thorough handwashing. 

If it is MRSA, then you might want to talk to your pediatrician. Aside from additional handwashing and thorough cleaning, they probably won't recommend that you do anything unless someone in your home has an issue with MRSA and is colonized. (That being said, while MRSA was rare a few years ago, most health care workers, teachers, kids and general public are usually colonized. You can pick it up at the gym off of dirty equipment, at the park, in a school, in a doctor's office, etc.) If someone in your home does get an infection, there is an eradication protocol that will be prescribed by your doctor that involves an RX for Bactroban, lots of hot water sheet and towel washing and daily cleansings with Hibiclens. Don't jump on that one unless you need it. 

Nice to be proactive but don't worry about it too much unless your health care practitioner says you should be concerned.