anyone familiar with MRSA?

KatelynEA90

I was given tons of hand-me-down clothing that belonged to a child that has MRSA outbreaks. I didn't think anything of it because they are washed and I was going to wash them again since they've been stored for a while and such. 

My MIL and a couple other people that also know the family are saying I shouldn't use them? I know MRSA can be transferred through cuts and body fluids but are the clothes a problem too? 

danandbethg

MRSA is a very stong, antibiotic resistant, bacteria. I work in a hospital, and I know that it is easily transferrable by touch. Even without blood or bodily fluids. MRSA can be contained to a specific area of the body (sputum, urine, a cut, etc.). We reuse sheets that have been in contact with a MRSA infected patient...after proper washing. HOWEVER, our linens and scrubs go thru a special washing process. For that reason, I personally wouldn't use the clothes from that family on my baby. They could be just fine, but when it comes to my baby, I wouldn't take the chance. In fact, even now (no kids in the house) I walk in the door, strip and shower, before I'll even let my husband hug me. Just because I don't want MRSA (or any other nasties I work around) all over the house.

Kath713

I've known people at work and adult family members who had MRSA and it was a nightmare each time.  That being said, I'm nothing of a medical professional so the clothes could be perfectly fine.  I don't know if MRSA would transfer through clothing after it's been washed in hot water, but I personally wouldn't take a chance on using the clothes until I had spoken to a doctor.  

That's just my opinion because of my personal experiences witnessing the effects of MRSA.  It could be totally paranoid but, if I were in your shoes, I would feel better after discussing the clothes with a doctor.  

If my doctor gave the OK, I'd be comfortable using the clothes.

alpine1976

I have been battling MRSA outbreaks for the past few years. I was hospitalized this time last year for a few days with an outbreak on my thumb and luckily have not had any outbreaks since then... hoping the heavy duty IV antibiotics knocked it out of my system.

I was told as long as everything was washed it would be fine... however after dealing with it personally I can attest that it is VERY painful and I would hate to see a LO suffer though an outbreak. 

I would check with your doctor or pediatrician and see what they thought.  

ThePrincessAndTheBumblebee

I agree with PPs. I would definitely talk to your doctor or pedi about this and/or how to safely sanitize the clothing. I don't know a lot about MRSA, only that my mom has battled with it and that it can be extremely serious, even fatal, in a newborn. 

Washing it might kill all of the germs. I don't know. It's not something to play around with, though. Ask your doctor to find out for sure. 

KatelynEA90

I'm not sure why the clothing being dangerous never crossed my mind. The clothing belonged to my 'niece' who isn't even 2 yet and it's heartbreaking when she has an outbreak. My MIL is an ER nurse and was the one that brought it to my attention. I may ask the doctor but I don't think I'm going to be risking it.

BodaciousMommyToBe

I have never had MRSA, however, my younger sister has this very, very devastating disease.  I asked her opinion about this...she is by nature a germaphobe and extremely clean and has no idea where she could've come into contact with this disease 2-3 years ago.  The fact that you're questioning the safety of the clothes is your own answer.  The clothes could be fine, but honestly the risk and potential detriment to your child's health is too great.  The family meant well by sharing the clothes, however, the fact is that MRSA is drug-resistant and can kill those with weakened immune systems very very quickly...children and elderly people are most at risk. 

I'm sure that the family that gave you the clothes have suffered a great deal treating and caring for their child and wouldn't want to have the clothes thrown away.  My younger sister suffered greatly from this disease and was allergic to the antibiotic that she had to take - she was in constant pain and discomfort from the MRSA (she lost a small amount of flesh that had to be surgically removed in six different areas in her body on two separate occasions and the rest of the healing process is too graphic to describe here)...the antibiotic that she had to take created a fiery, itchy rash on her entire body and she cried everyday from the pain of the MRSA.  She was in her mid-thirties, so I can't even imagine what a child would experience.

My mother also weighed in on the issue and agrees with your family and thinks that you shouldn't use them or pass them on to someone else.  

It's such a shame but it's not worth the risk...and I'm sure that family who gave you the clothes is just happy their little one is doing better.  MRSA is an equal opportunity disease and doesn't care about age, innocence, gender, socio-economic status or anything else...it's a killer.

bbpb112

I have been having MRSA outbreaks since 2006, and anytime I do, I throw out towels and sheets to be on the safe side. When I had my first outbreak, that's what my doctor told me to do..and I have just been doing it ever since, but I'm sure times have changed! I would just wash them a few times to be on the safe side.

Haley.Beth

As nasty as MRSA is, it shows the same characteristics as its original form Staphylococcus aureus (regular old staph). The only difference is it being drug resistant. That does not make it heat resistant. If you really want to use the clothing, boil them (if they can take it. If not, then I personally wouldn't think they'd last through a second child wearing them). Staph is destroyed at 147 F for 21 seconds (here is my citing for that). Boiling will bring the water up to around 200 F, so it would be more than enough.

However, as PP's have suggested, if you don't feel good about using the clothes, then don't. If boiling them wouldn't take that doubt from your mind, nothing will, and wouldn't you hate having that constantly in the back of your mind?

BritanyV

I used to battle MRSA infections, because I worked with a NASTY woman that would get outbreaks and she didn't treat them properly or take proper precautions to not spread it to other people.   We had to share a restroom and she didn't wash her hands and etc...  *gross*   Of course "miraculously", ever since I quit that job, I haven't had an outbreak since!

Anyway, at one point I went to an infectious disease doctor and he said that MRSA is very common and very easily transferable.   He said that for at home, when I had an outbreak to wash our sheets and everything in hot water.   DH NEVER caught MRSA from me and we shared a bed during my outbreaks.   

I would wash the clothes in hot water and not worry about it.   

penguinem

Hmm...could you check with a local cleaner's to see if they have a "sanitizing clean" or something? I might be making that up (well, I probably am), but if you could get a whole bag of clothes cleaned for a small fee it would be worth it for piece of mind and to be able to use the clothing. Just a thought!

KatelynEA90

Thanks for all the information guys!

The lady that gave me the clothes is like my sister and her daughter is like my niece, we spend a lot of time together and had so much fun going through her daughters old clothes to pass on to her new 'cousin'. That was actually before it was confirmed that she had MRSA and like me, it probably just hasn't crossed her mind yet that it's not the best idea anymore. They have no idea how she got MRSA either, it was some time after she turned 1 and it was just confirmed but it hasn't spread to any one else. She hasn't had many outbreaks and only one bad one but it's heartbreaking whenever it happens.  

I do know that it's a strong, very resistant form of staph but at their infectious disease appointment they were told that since she is so young, she may grow out of it?  

mrs_kelly1014

My DS has a horrible MRSA infection that we've been treating since April. We were just at the hospital this morning checking in with one of his doctors to tweak his meds so we are unfortunately VERY familiar with it.

That being said, they tell us to wash his clothes/sheets/towells on hot and that it is plenty sufficient. I would use the clothes, but just wash them on very hot a time or two to be sure.

sharrow

My mother, and nephew, both have been battling MRSA infections.

I get clothes from my nephew all the time, and just wash them twice on hot and dry them in a hot dryer.  Make sure that the clothes are completely dry as staph does not like a dry environment.

FYI, the infectious disease specialist working with my Mom told her that MRSA is pretty much everywhere.  She said that, unfortunately, some people are just more susceptible to getting an infection than others.  That is why you will have one person in a household struggling with it, and the rest of the family members are fine (though they may be carriers).