MRSA advise needed

[Willow01]

My mum has just been told she has MRSA (she's currently undertaking chemo for ovarian cancer - last thing she needs). She says that the hospital has told her she is not contagious but everything I read on the internet suggests she will be. Should I be keeping my 6 month old away from her? I really don't want to if I don't have to since she is so unwell but I also don't want to risk passing this to my boy. Is there anyone who has been through this or knows what's best for me to do?

 

[messica]

MRSA is ***EXTREMELY*** contagious.

It can be spread skin to skin or even via contaminated surfaces (she sits in a chair, then you sit in the same chair afterward you can get it and bring it home to your family).

That an infants immune system is not yet fully developed it unfortunately will be especially important for them not to have contact (same goes for anyone in your family that will also be around the baby).

If you need to, consult your baby's pediatrician to confirm so you can let her know their recommendations.

I'd be willing to bet she knows full well she's contagious but that she's unwell and desperate for the time with her family. Who can really blame her for that..... What terrible circumstances....she will be in my prayers


(Maybe try skyping until it resolves so she still gets face time with baby?)

 

[MamaE]

MRSA is contagious!!! Keep the baby away from her, unfortunately It's a sad situation, and I'm so sorry that your family is going through this, but a staph infection is no joke. Adults have a hard time coping with MRSA, so one can draw the conclusion safely that an infant with an undeveloped immune system would have umpteen-times harder a fight. Not worth the exposure, even in these circumstances So, so sorry

 

[Tilliepink]

Very contagious and takes a long time to treat.

 

[Rachel_C]

Umm... total rubbish! ^

MRSA is contagious but 30% of people have it on their skin anyway. Are the previous posters really suggesting that you need to get everybody you may have contact with tested and treated? Perhaps baby could live in a bubble to avoid touching anybody until adulthood?

OP have a read of this - https://mrsaactionuk.net/babiesandmrsa.html Right at the bottom it tells you whether you need to worry and the answer is no. As long as your mum isn't slobbering, bleeding or oozing onto your LO, it's fine to see her. If you're worried, talk to your mum's doctor or nurse, they will hopefully have a little perspective.

 

[Tilliepink]

To each there own I suppose. I'm a nurse and it's contagious and difficult to treat. I wouldn't put my child at risk. 6 month olds constantly have their hands in their mouth. And I know how OP is feeling I lost my mother 7 years ago when my DS was 6 months to cancer. All the best to you and your mom willow.

 

[babies7777]

Does she have an active infection or just had results of a swab saying she has it? you can be colonised with it ie a swab from your nose comes back positive but not have any symptoms. My dd got mrsa at the hospital i gave birth in, she had a watery eye couple of weeks after being born an when swabbed it came back mrsa positive. She was given eye drops, swabbed in nose throat an groin an i was given a scrub to use after her bath. When re tested it was gone. I developed symptoms shortly after an was given same scrub hibi scrub and a powder to use an when re tested fine. Is your mum getting any treatment for it? but like i said if she doesnt have symptoms she could just be colonised which a huge amount of people are as rach c said without any issues.

 

[sambob]

It can be harmful in certain situations (weak, frail elderly patients with open wounds). To most adults there is minimal risk, the treatment for Mrsa is a cream you apply twice a day up your nose called naseptin and a medicated antibacterial body wash called chlorhexidine. In some cases you may need antibiotics. Once you've contracted the infection you carry the toxins from the Bacteria in your system for the rest of your life, so once you go back into a hospital environment the bacteria may become active again.

In our hospital we advise not to bring young babies to visit their family members that have hospital infections (C-Diff mainly!), however you take it at you own risk, and use common sense...
Wash yours and your children's hands with soap and water when leaving!
(The alcohol gels provided do not kill all bacteria).

If it was that dangerous they would make us nurses and health care assistants have constant treatment and bleach us down after every shift hehe!

Hope your mum makes a speedy healthy recovery x x x