12 weeks post hysterectomy: Mrsa!

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Originally Posted by rockymtn1971 My pre op test was merely a blood test and a questionairre. I'm not sure if they can dedect MRSA in blood? The fact that your hospital did those tests shows diligence! Perhaps they've had issues with MRSA and are working hard to make sure it doesn't happen again (just an uneducated guess on my part)

As far as I know, there's no blood test for MRSA or VRE. I also had to have a couple of blood and urine samples taken as part of my pre-op, so I think if there *were* a blood test for these bacteria, it would have been handled then instead of sending me to a different department to do the swabs.

I have been unlucky enough to have had 2 MRSA infections. I was working in a hospital the first time I came down with the infection. The way it was explained to me, the bacteria is all over the hospital and you can catch it by simply touching a door knob with a hand that has a paper cut. I was on 3 different antibiotics over a month's period and the infection did not respond and required surgery to remove it. I was more fortunate the second time and the infection responded to the antibiotic. I was tested prior to surgery and I am not a carrier. My current doctor says that once you have the infection it stays dormant in your body (like herpes). If you are lucky, it may never re-occur, but if you are not fortunate you may get other outbreaks.

I was super careful in the hospital. My bare feet never touched the hospital floor. I took minimal stuff to the hospital and sterilized everything with antibacterial wipes (like cell phones and our shoes) when we came home. My DH and I even took the clothing worn in the hospital off in the garage before entering our home and immediately placed them in the washing machine. We really were very cautious. MRSA is one nasty bacteria!

Forgot to add that I didn't even use the hospital shower, but I did shower as soon as I got home.

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Originally Posted by SurprisedInNB As far as I know, there's no blood test for MRSA or VRE. I also had to have a couple of blood and urine samples taken as part of my pre-op, so I think if there *were* a blood test for these bacteria, it would have been handled then instead of sending me to a different department to do the swabs.

I had a nasal swab done both times. Blood cultures were never successful at diagnosing me with MRSA.

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Originally Posted by bgocala Forgot to add that I didn't even use the hospital shower, but I did shower as soon as I got home.

The hospital stay I did the same exact thing. I did not return home with any items I had there with the exception of a jacket which I placed in a garment bag. When I showered I wiped the entire shower down with Clorox bleach wipes and wore socks. Clorox wipes are not allowed in patient rooms but I did not care.
If you go to the Center for Disease Control website and look under the guidelines for the hospitals you will get the REAL explanation of where the bacteria originates and see the campaign to eliminate it. Healthcare providers want you to believe it's just a natural occurrence in the hospital. Don't fall for it. They told me the same foolishness.

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Originally Posted by Stacia2182 The hospital stay I did the same exact thing. I did not return home with any items I had there with the exception of a jacket which I placed in a garment bag. When I showered I wiped the entire shower down with Clorox bleach wipes and wore socks. Clorox wipes are not allowed in patient rooms but I did not care. If you go to the Center for Disease Control website and look under the guidelines for the hospitals you will get the REAL explanation of where the bacteria originates and see the campaign to eliminate it. Healthcare providers want you to believe it's just a natural occurrence in the hospital. Don't fall for it. They told me the same foolishness.

I figured after 2 infections I wasn't taking any chances. My DH and I looked like a hazmat team taking our clothing off in the garage! LOL

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Originally Posted by bgocala I figured after 2 infections I wasn't taking any chances. My DH and I looked like a hazmat team taking our clothing off in the garage! LOL

That is hilarious. Better safe than sorry.

clorox wipes - when we use to sell dips and spices at Christmas show, flea markets, etc. we were told by the health departments that clorox wipes were unacceptable to cleaning hands and surfaces. They basically are worthless according to them. Had to have water with bleach in it at a certain mixture. The amount of clorox in the wipes is not enough to really kill bad bacteria according to them.

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Originally Posted by charlotteel clorox wipes - when we use to sell dips and spices at Christmas show, flea markets, etc. we were told by the health departments that clorox wipes were unacceptable to cleaning hands and surfaces. They basically are worthless according to them. Had to have water with bleach in it at a certain mixture. The amount of clorox in the wipes is not enough to really kill bad bacteria according to them.

Really? Wow. So many things are misleading.

HysterSisters does have a short article which you might find helpful: MRSA Infection after Hysterectomy. MRSA is not restricted to being contracted in medical facilities as there is both health-care associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The HA-MRSA can be more severe. To see if you are a carrier of MRSA, a nose swab or skin culture can be done. Pus from a wound, a skin sample, or material from blood, urine, or a biopsy can be sent to a lab to be cultured to check for MRSA as well.

I know first hand that MRSA can be miserable and dangerous as my family has been dealing with it over the last year. As MRSA can reoccur (and it has several times for my DH), it is important to watch for signs which could indicate a new outbreak so that you can treat it quickly.

in there!