Contracting MRSA

I contracted Mersa in my hands and fought the initial infection for 6 months. During this time period I was also out of work. Not covered by Workmans Comp. Their view is that I could have contracted it anywhere. The main question I have is has anyone out there had Mersa especially in their hands. Now I have all types of problems with the skin on my hands. I am allergic to almost everything that touches my hands. Latex, soap, any perfumed lotion. I am on Prednisone and have started taking Methatrexate. This has gone on for almost a year. I wear gloves for super sensitive skin and wear cotton gloves when I have skin break down. I believe I contracted the initial infection while having slight contact dermatitis from the keyboard at work while charting. They are not disenfected. Before the infection I would only occasionally have contact dermatitis. If someone else has had similar problems please talk.
Originally posted by nursing4ptw/pts:I contracted Mersa in my hands and fought the initial infection for 6 months. During this time period I was also out of work. Not covered by Workmans Comp. Their view is that I could have contracted it anywhere. The main question I have is has anyone out there had Mersa especially in their hands. Now I have all types of problems with the skin on my hands. I am allergic to almost everything that touches my hands. Latex, soap, any perfumed lotion. I am on Prednisone and have started taking Methatrexate. This has gone on for almost a year. I wear gloves for super sensitive skin and wear cotton gloves when I have skin break down. I believe I contracted the initial infection while having slight contact dermatitis from the keyboard at work while charting. They are not disenfected. Before the infection I would only occasionally have contact dermatitis. If someone else has had similar problems please talk.

my son as an infant picked it up off my uniform it has encapsuled in his lung so when he gets sick-he gets sicker than most due to the lung damage it did. I would go talk to a lawyer about the worker's comp because with it being in your hands you have some issues that need to be addressed,like lost pay, follow up treatment when it flares up, possible retraining issues, emotional suffering and pain and the list could be even bigger. whatever you do i wish you the best -barb

I was wanting to know if you were talking about methycillin resistant staph areus (MRSA) or if there was another disese out there by the name of Mersa. We have had quite a few pts. with MRSA in our hospital but never a staff memeber.

Originally posted by butter:I was wanting to know if you were talking about methycillin resistant staph areus (MRSA) or if there was another disese out there by the name of Mersa. We have had quite a few pts. with MRSA in our hospital but never a staff memeber.

Originally posted by butter:I was wanting to know if you were talking about methycillin resistant staph areus (MRSA) or if there was another disese out there by the name of Mersa. We have had quite a few pts. with MRSA in our hospital but never a staff memeber.

I had a coworker who contracted MRSA. It developed in a papercut on her index finger, and formed an abscess. Kept her out of patient care for a few weeks. Before that, I had never heard of anyone getting it from a patient.

Quote from nrsjoi had a coworker who contracted mrsa. it developed in a papercut on her index finger, and formed an abscess. kept her out of patient care for a few weeks. before that, i had never heard of anyone getting it from a patient.

Quote from graduatenursewhat are the symtoms person experice who has contracted mrsa?

I just got a phone call from my doctor. I went to him about a week ago because I had a "boil" under my arm. It started as a spot almost like a bite, and I remember itching it at work under my scrubs. As it progressed bigger and bigger I did what all good nurses do........I tried to drain it lol. Anyway, after developing a really nasty hot spot, the redness was traveling bigger and bigger around the area. I could hardly keep my arm down against it. I finally gave it up and went in to see my doc. I was afraid he would want to lance it and I'm a big baby when I'm stuck with a knife! Well thats what he did..aghh. Then he started me on antibiotics...clindamycin, and sent me on my way. It wasn't really getting any better til 2 days ago. I had our wound care nurse look at it on the side at work, and she commented..."O you have a staph infection",,,gave me some dressings to take home to use and didnt seem too concerned. At the end of my 12 hr day I came home and found my would had finally drained...loads.To make a long story short, the doc says I have mrsa. I can't believe it but then again I can. I deal with lots of old people with nasty wounds, and yes, mrsa among other nastys. BTW, my wound is really much better. Pain is gone, but I still have a hard lump under the skin. He changed my antibiotic to doxyclycline and I'll start that tomorrow.Now. He advised me to speak with my infection control team. Will they send me home? And is it necessary? Wouldn't it be fine as long as my would has a dressing on it? Do I really need to share this with my hospital? See, I strongly believe the only reason a hospital does NOT test their nurses for mrsa thru nose swabs ect, is that if they DID they would find most..or a large portion of them with the disease collonized.So..what do I do here?

Everybody working today? I am!! Help!!

I believe you should contact infection control. I don't think that if the wound is covered that you should have to stay home-especially if you've been on antibiotics. If you don't report this and there is some type of complication, you wouldn't have any documentation. Also, I agree if they tested the nursing staff they would find lots of MRSA. Good luck to you.

Staph Aureus is common, and sadly so is the multi resistant forms. You can get it anywhere really!When I was younger I got my ears pierced for the first time and I contracted it before it was officially known as MRSA (it was called a pain in the butt to cure in those days! LOL, I am not kidding...a staph hard to kill! MY Dx...uhgggggg!). Found out I got it from the fact the piercer got sick and it was from a food sourse or poor hygiene after rest room and she gave it to me!!! AND 20 other kids!Contact from secretions...hard one to not get really. Universal precautions my friends! I assume everyone has it and act accordingly! For those out of the healthcare profession..wash hands the RIGHT way (sing happy birthday twice while vigorously scrubbing hands with hot water) after tolieting, sneezing/coughing etc in hands...or touching anything 'human wet and not yours!!!!!! Use of gloves if able is very helpful!If contracted, you are in need of isolation of that area dependant...depends on area affected! Sorry, but you do!