My 54 year old sister had a hip replacement operation in March of this year. Subsequently, she developed a post-operative staff infection (MRSA), and was hospitalized for two (2) weeks before being released to home care on Monday of this week. The next 2 months she will be home self administering a very strong antibiotic via picline 3x's/day, doing ice, and mild P.T, with nurse visits and f/u doctor's appt's, etc. I have read up on MRSA, and everything I read talks of the contagious nature of this infection. Yet she was allowed visitors in the hospital, wasn't isolated from the other patients, nurses/ staff in any way etc., which seems to me to be a contradiction of sorts, and makes me wonder out loud about what I read, and whether or not I should be concerned about catching her infection if I visit her at home. My ex-wife (who's a little nuts anyway) thinks that I could get the disease from my sister and infect her and my kids with it, and as such, has banned me from contact with any of them...indefinitely. Can you shed some light on this for me? Is SHE nuts for thinking that way, or am I just naive when I tell her she has nothing to worry about...? I look forward to your response. Sincerely,
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Male Person's Age: 58
HelloUnfortunately what you read about MRSA is a lot of hysteria in many cases.We all have staph on our skin and we are exposed to it daily.You can not be NOT exposed.MRSA is simply staph that requires antibiotic that it is sensitive to and will not respond to the average antibiotic.Most people are not susceptible to staph , even when they get wounds.....so that is the first issue.Secondly, good hand washing basically eliminates most spread in hospitals...this is not come killer bug as it has been portrayed..simply needs more knowledge to treat if someone has an infection.Since your relative is on antibiotic and being treated....hand washing by anyone that comes into physical contact is plenty of precaution.If any one is directly involved in wound care or dressing changes, etc..this becomes more important [hand washing].
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