Houseguest with MRSA

sgray8

Not sure how to handle this or if I should even be concerned.

As I type this- there is a couple who is friends with my husband at our house to watch March Madness. The guy spent last weekend in the hospital because he has contracted MRSA. He was released Sunday and I am assuming he has been taking his antibiotics this entire week. I know he had to stay home from work this week on doctors orders. His girlfriend is also on antibiotics.

From what I have found out about MRSA once you have contracted it you are always a carrier of it and I could just as easily pick it up at the grocery store, library or any public place.

I am a bit concerned because I am 31 weeks pregnant and obviously we all know that you are limited with what medications you can take when you're pregnant so I am a little nervous about being around this couple so soon after he found out he has it and is actually still in the process of taking antibiotics.

Thoughts? Am I being too crazy? Should I bleach my house after they leave? Tell them to leave? LOL Not sure how to confront this situation. I would LIKE to think that any person who is in the process of taking antibiotics or has something like strep, or any type of cold would have some common courtesy and not share it....especially with a pregnant chick.  

 

13pickle

normally if you are on antibiotics you aren't contagious after 3 days, I would think in this case you are less contagious, but I would have my husband clean everything, they are his friends.

trojas

I am an extra paranoid person, so I personally wouldn't even be around the couple. I would rather be safe than sorry. 

sgray8

Lol! It's kind of like if you KNOW you have a cold of some kind and then going still going to work and giving it to everybody else. I just figure a little courtesy would be nice. If you're on medication, don't come over lol I would rather be safe than sorry too. Although I am pretty sure my husband thinks that I am overreacting. Then again my MIL is visiting too and she's on my side lol

trojas

sgray8:

Lol! It's kind of like if you KNOW you have a cold of some kind and then going still going to work and giving it to everybody else. I just figure a little courtesy would be nice. If you're on medication, don't come over lol I would rather be safe than sorry too. Although I am pretty sure my husband thinks that I am overreacting. Then again my MIL is visiting too and she's on my side lol

Exactly!  And the couple isn't being considerate if you ask me. Especially if they know you are pregnant. 

Josie22

My son is a carrier of MRSA. My Dr isn't concerned about be handling his needs, including first aide/blood. If they're both on anti-biotics, and he has no uncovered wounds. The chance isn't that great that you'll catch it. The risk is actually greater to him to become re-infected then for you to become infected.

But, cleaning your home will likely make you feel more comfortable. That alone is worth it. So I would clean. 

mikeandcristina

Actually, 90% of hospital staff are "colonized" with it, but most hospitals don't test for it. Colonized meaning a carrier in the nasal cavity, which is also very common among normal people. If you've visited or worked in a nursing home or hospital in the recent past, or been around someone that has/does, you could be a carrier. It's not a big deal (or contagious) unless there are oozing sores that aren't properly dressed or taken care of. As humans, we actually carry staph on our skin.

It's not as harmful as it has been made out to be - I know this because when I was in the hospital for hyperemesis in my first trimerster, they asked if I had been in a nursing home in the last 3 months, which I had to visit my grandma. They proceeded to culture my nose- the first, short culture came back positive for MRSA - while we were waiting for the longer, more accurate culture to come back (which was negative), they had me speak with the disease control staff at the hospital. (Talking with the nurses, they informed me that nurses and doctors are actually the biggest carriers/spreaders of it.)

While I'm relieved I don't have it, and still tend to panic at the first utterance of the word, once I remind myself that it's nothing to freak about I'm ok.

So, as long as this guy has taken his antibiotics and isn't oozing on your furniture, you should be just fine. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor about it or call and talk to the disease control department at your hospital - but I"m sure you'll find that it's nothing to be majorly concerned about!

funkymonkeyohyeahhh

My husband is currently on antibiotics for it because his doctor thinks he has it. We'll get official results on Wednesday. She said so long as he doesn't have any open sores that I come in to contact with, then the risk is extremely minimal. He is just not to lay on any surface in our house without his shirt on (the issue is with his back).

kris_kelsey

I wouldn't be concerned because I am an RN and I know that if I have not already exposed, then I could be exposed at any public place.  As long as you don't have any open/weeping wounds that it could infect then I would not be worried.

Lynnette171

I thought you needed to be on the antibiotics for 10 days for MRSA before returning to work/school because it was still contagious?  That was what it was when I was teaching anyway. 

Asquared

There was a girl in my class that had it and she was gone for probably 2 weeks- the school nurse came in and disinfected her desk and chair.  I'd probably make my dh do some sanitizing, but unless the dude took a bath or something- I'd try not to worry... but I would still use some disinfecting wipes on all doors and the bathrooms and such to make me feel better.

 

Resk

MRSA is highly contagious, but through contact only. This does mean however that it can live on surfaces for periods of time. BLEACH BLEACH BLEACH. The chances of you catching it if he had it covered are slim but I would clean the crap out of everything I could. I work in the CT department at a hospital and any patient that comes down from isolation esp. with MRSA the whole CT suite gets disinfected by housekeeping.

jamielynne1533

I work at a hospital also...and since I am pregnant..I am not to go into patients rooms with MRSA. They are put in isolation. So..that being said..I would be a little concerned..But..since becoming pregnant, I have also become kind of a germaphobe! But what I am curious about...is where is his MRSA???

sgray8

My understanding is that the infected area is on his hip. I don't think that he was running around showing people. But my thought are 1- is he taking his antibiotics as instructed. He's the type who is pretty much anti-medicine and doesn't think very highly of the doctors/nurses. Plus, to be honest I personally don't find him to be the cleanest of people i.e. washing hands after going to the bathroom. 

I had some Lysol wipes so I took those around an rubbed down all surfaces I think he would have came in contact with- fridge door handles, lights witches, toilet, door knobs, coffee table. Then I went over everything again with a mixture of hot water and Mrs. Meyers concentrated cleaner. 

The funny part is that it turns out my husband didn't even invite them over to the house. Somebody else did. That individual also seems to enjoy coming to our house when he has colds too but at least he stays out on the back patio. I finally told my husband that he is going to have to start telling people if they are sick they can stay away. I know I can pick stuff up in public but that's different than coming to my home and leaving your germs around.

Sorry, it's my first pregnancy so I am probably overreacting but I really am trying to avoid getting sick is possible lol

 

HeyThereGoodLookin

sgray8:

My understanding is that the infected area is on his hip. I don't think that he was running around showing people. But my thought are 1- is he taking his antibiotics as instructed. He's the type who is pretty much anti-medicine and doesn't think very highly of the doctors/nurses. Plus, to be honest I personally don't find him to be the cleanest of people i.e. washing hands after going to the bathroom. 

I had some Lysol wipes so I took those around an rubbed down all surfaces I think he would have came in contact with- fridge door handles, lights witches, toilet, door knobs, coffee table. Then I went over everything again with a mixture of hot water and Mrs. Meyers concentrated cleaner. 

The funny part is that it turns out my husband didn't even invite them over to the house. Somebody else did. That individual also seems to enjoy coming to our house when he has colds too but at least he stays out on the back patio. I finally told my husband that he is going to have to start telling people if they are sick they can stay away. I know I can pick stuff up in public but that's different than coming to my home and leaving your germs around.

Sorry, it's my first pregnancy so I am probably overreacting but I really am trying to avoid getting sick is possible lol

 

I would hope most people would be nice enough to stay away if they were sick!

If I was you I would make my husband tell this guy not to invite himself over, which is basically what he did if he didn't ask you or your husband if he could come. I would be annoyed too.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

laurenhankey

I work in a prison where they take MRSA very very sersiously.  I have seen it to where bone was exposed because it was left untreated and had gotten to bad.  That's obviously a serious case but yes, it can be very harmful.  I'd be pretty pissed if this guy came to my house AT ALL with it let alone while I am pregnant.  The best you can do it sanitize (you never know how he got it, does he wash his hands?)  and keep yourself clean.  Yes, you can get it pretty much anywhere but the risk is higher if you have someone in your own home with it.  I wouldn't freak out too much about it though.  Just be aware.  It starts off usually with a small pimple/spider-like bump that quickly turns into an infection (unless you already have an open wound it could get in to).  Apparently it's super painful so there's no mistaking it for a regular pimple or bump.  Just stay clean and you'll be okay.  I've worked in a prison for several years and have see it first hand at its worst and have yet to contract it (thank goodness) and I did this while pregnant, too. Hope this helps!

LesSaintesMariesDeLaMer

Oh man.  I would be grossed out too. 

Yes, I think a lot of people are carriers of MRSA, whether or not they are aware, but there is a difference in carrying the bacteria and having an active, oozing infection with the bacteria. 

I would call the doctor if I was you, just to see what he/she says about it.  I think it was pretty inconsiderate for these people to come around you knowing that he has an active infection.