7 month old positive for MRSA and PA

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Gammaw

Super Moderator
I suggest you review the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Guidelines for more information on what to expect or request at your Clinic. In particular, I am pasting the Guideline regarding the use if masks by CF patients at all facilities - regardless of whether anY other patients wear a mask.

21. The CF Foundation recommends that all people with CF wear a surgical (procedure, isolation) mask when in a healthcare facility to reduce the risk of transmission or acquisition of CF pathogens. Masks should be worn throughout the facility, including in restrooms. Masks should not be worn during pulmonary function testing, in the clinic exam room, or in the patient’s hospital room. If the optimal size mask is not available (eg, for small infants), use the smallest mask available. If a mask is not tolerated by an individual with CF who is having respiratory distress, encourage that person to follow Respiratory Hygiene practices. Masks should be changed when wet.

Source of supporting evidence: 2007 transmission guideline, Category IB

2013 CF IP&C guideline consensus: 100%

Here's a link to the Guidelines in toto.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/676882
 
I

imported_Momto2

New member
Hon, if you dont see people taking adequate precautions to prevent your child becoming infected, I would switch clinics faster than lightening.
AND report the clinic to the CFF. Your baby ought to have been masked and she shouldnt touch ANYTHING, like a waiting room chair, door handle, etc. unless you are already in a "clean room" But if the clinic is not using masks, frankly, I wouldnt trust the clean room either. She should be masked in the lab, during x--ray, etc. ALL THE TIME, except PFT's and clean room. Sanitize her hands anytime she might have touched a dirty surface. ANd keep in mind she can now pass on nasty germs to healthier kids, so try to keep her from spreading those too. YOU need to wash your hands constantly too since you could get nasty germs on your hands and give them to her. You wont get sick from the germs yourself, since you are probably healthy, but you can pass them to your daughter. I'm so sorry she has to start out this way.

I've gone 44 years without picking up anything other than PA, the primary reason being my refusal to attend CF centers until they took serious precautions.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
One of our concerns as well with our local cf clinic was the lack of protocol regarding cross contamination. They had a small crowded waiting room. Instead of patients being assigned to a room, the patients were to got from room to room to meet with individual team members. Because ds was a baby, they made an exception being we had to be there for 4-6 hours, but we were told once he was older he would be expected to go from room to room following a dozen or so patients because they just didn't have enough exam rooms for their "clinic day". When we complained, we were told it was a non-issue as no one in the clinic had ever cultured cepacia and if they did, they wouldn't be allowed to attend clinic days any more.
 
G

Gammaw

Super Moderator
Ratatosk, I'm hoping that was a long time ago. No clinic should even be considering stunts like that anymore.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
We stopped attending the local clinic days 9 years ago. Most of the other local families do what we do -- see one of the CF doctors at the Peds clinic for a mini-cf appointment/well child visit twice a year and travel to the City for primary cf care. Don't know if they still conduct CF clinic days the same way. They still were a few years ago according to a parent who still takes her kids there.
 
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imported_Momto2

New member
That is pretty darn frightening..... Especially since new parents dont necessarily know any better. You'd think a clinic would try and set an example.
 
A

Allansarmy

Guest
I like many others here echo the sentiment, stay calm. My son also grew MRSA at a very young age. I didn't bother stressing about it as much because I am in the medical field. He could have caught it from various amount of things including my scrubs when I would get off work. So rather than beating myself up over it, I took it in stride.

If he ever goes in the hospital which is about every other year. (Sometimes more) they do treat him like the scene from ET where the staff wears bio suits and they put signs on his door that would make you stop in your tracks. He primarily gets Bactrim and Vancomycin IV. My son asks for a PICC line as soon as he gets in. Because he hates to be stuck with IVs over and over.

Not gonna lie here. There is a good chance that your child will grow MRSA again at another time. Just look at it like other bugs but they have to treat it more aggressively. My son has grown it over 10 times In 19 years. The doctors want him to be careful with his job hunting as well. So defenitely no fast food job, stuff like that.

When your child gets older and they want their privacy they will tend to stay in their room a lot and cough stuff up into tissue and throw it in the trash. Try to do your best by getting new bags and disinfecting the room. Its hard work but doable.
 
J

Jenrenea

Guest
Just wanted to give an update. Her doctor said that some doctors don't like to treat just yet but her thoughts are "let's treat it, eradicate it, and hopefully not see it again for several years". So that definitely made me feel better. So she is now on albuterol 2/day, cipro 2/day, clindamycin 3/day and Tobi 2/day. And we will re-culture after the 28 days of Tobi.
 
G

Gammaw

Super Moderator
I'm glad to see an update, Jenrenea. I was wondering just last night how the week has gone for you. I'm also glad they are treating it. It is absolutely true that some docs look at it as untreatable and aren't going to bother with it unless and until it starts giving problems. Obviously you're more comfortable with a more proactive approach. Me too. The Cipro/Tobi mix is pretty standard for PA, especially initially. The clindamycin is clearly for the MRSA. I would still ask for a consult with an infectious disease specialist if I were you. I think they just have more experience with MRSA, although not necessarily with CFers. Did they suggest various things to make sure the environment and other household members are not contaminated? That would be standard, I believe. But I never hear that from CF docs, just infectious disease docs.
 
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Jenrenea

Guest
No they didn't say anything about infection control but I read that link that was posted. I've basically disinfected my entire house, all her toys and anything she comes in contact with. Stopped wearing shoes in the house (never really thought about all the nasty germs on your shoes) making sure hand hygiene is done frequently. Now we just have to make sure she doesn't get dehydrated. My gosh these antibiotics are tearing up her stomach. We're going through 3-4 outfits a day. We're doing probiotics and pedialyte.
 
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Gammaw

Super Moderator
You can generally find similar pads at your local WalMart in the section for Depends and similar items usually by the pharmacy section. Been there done that!
 
G

Gammaw

Super Moderator
The protocols you're following are great. An infectious disease specialist can give you a list of detailed instructions. It usually needs to be done regularly.....not just once. Do check with them to optimize your chances of eradication.
 
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