Hello....
My grandma was recently admitted to the hospital very very sick with a respiratory infection that they later found out to be MRSA (probably contracted when she had surgery a few months ago). She was (is) still struggling to breath, had fevers and was extremely sick with it. People would gown and do all the "usual" things when caring for her (though they never had my aunts or uncles who were going in and out of her room gown or mask).
Anyway, she has since gotten a bit better. They gave her antibiotics and are now saying the MRSA is "under control". They are also saying she is no longer contagious.
I am very confused. Does MRSA (the community-aquired respiratory kind) ever actually get erradicated from someone who is 87 years old with very frail health (she has been sick with a "cough" for years now and is weak and just all around sick with heart and weight issues as well.)? I am asking for two reasons:
1. Can I ever see her again? Can I go to her house? Can she come to mine? She is also planning on staying with my parents for a few weeks after she starts feeling better, so can I go visit my parents at the same time? How about later after she leaves? She coughs a lot even before she was diagnosed with MRSA, and they've told her for years to do neb treatments to open her airways. So, I assume she'll still have her cough (MRSA or not) when I would visit her or after she'd leave somewhere and I'd go visit. Does this make sense?
2. My mom is thinking of going to take care of her within a few weeks of her release from the hospital at her home. She would provide direct medical care (she was a nurse for many years) as well as cook, clean, help her get around the house, etc. My mom also has some issues with chronic cold sores and nose issues so she would certainly not be without open "wounds" the entire time she's there. So, is this safe for my mom? Would it then be safe for me to be around my mom when her month or two after direct care for someone with MRSA?
I just am very nervous about this all. I have never cultured MRSA (touch wood) or staph aur. (touch wood) and don't want to somehow get it indirectly if all of this could have been prevented. Ya know?
Thanks for all your replies and information. Maybe I'm just being a big worry-wart! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Imagine that.
My grandma was recently admitted to the hospital very very sick with a respiratory infection that they later found out to be MRSA (probably contracted when she had surgery a few months ago). She was (is) still struggling to breath, had fevers and was extremely sick with it. People would gown and do all the "usual" things when caring for her (though they never had my aunts or uncles who were going in and out of her room gown or mask).
Anyway, she has since gotten a bit better. They gave her antibiotics and are now saying the MRSA is "under control". They are also saying she is no longer contagious.
I am very confused. Does MRSA (the community-aquired respiratory kind) ever actually get erradicated from someone who is 87 years old with very frail health (she has been sick with a "cough" for years now and is weak and just all around sick with heart and weight issues as well.)? I am asking for two reasons:
1. Can I ever see her again? Can I go to her house? Can she come to mine? She is also planning on staying with my parents for a few weeks after she starts feeling better, so can I go visit my parents at the same time? How about later after she leaves? She coughs a lot even before she was diagnosed with MRSA, and they've told her for years to do neb treatments to open her airways. So, I assume she'll still have her cough (MRSA or not) when I would visit her or after she'd leave somewhere and I'd go visit. Does this make sense?
2. My mom is thinking of going to take care of her within a few weeks of her release from the hospital at her home. She would provide direct medical care (she was a nurse for many years) as well as cook, clean, help her get around the house, etc. My mom also has some issues with chronic cold sores and nose issues so she would certainly not be without open "wounds" the entire time she's there. So, is this safe for my mom? Would it then be safe for me to be around my mom when her month or two after direct care for someone with MRSA?
I just am very nervous about this all. I have never cultured MRSA (touch wood) or staph aur. (touch wood) and don't want to somehow get it indirectly if all of this could have been prevented. Ya know?
Thanks for all your replies and information. Maybe I'm just being a big worry-wart! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Imagine that.