MRSA

[anonymous]

OK, I must have way too much time on my hands, but wondered how exactly do we get MRSA or cepacia for that matter? I understand the skin type MRSA is passed around through sweaty locker rooms, skin contact or contact in the hospital/dr offices with nurses/doctors not washing hands between patients. But how do WE get it in our lungs, not on the skin????
Is it thru inhalation? Did we somehow get it on our skin & it magically zooms to our lungs?
Just curious, like I said, too much time on my hands I guess......<img src="i/expressions/clock.gif" border="0">

 

[WinAce]

Water droplets contacting the mucus membranes. That's the short answer.

Coughing or sneezing throws out a ton of miniscule drops of moisture, all of which house millions of bacteria. These can either settle in your nose and mouth directly, if a person sneezes/coughs in your direction, or they can wipe their face with a hand, touch a doorknob, and leave those contaminants for you to transfer to your own hand, then onto your own face when you touch it.

 

[anonymous]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i><br>OK, I must have way too much time on my hands, but wondered how exactly do we get MRSA or cepacia for that matter? I understand the skin type MRSA is passed around through sweaty locker rooms, skin contact or contact in the hospital/dr offices with nurses/doctors not washing hands between patients. But how do WE get it in our lungs, not on the skin????

Is it thru inhalation? Did we somehow get it on our skin & it magically zooms to our lungs?

Just curious, like I said, too much time on my hands I guess......<img src="i/expressions/clock.gif" border="0"><hr></blockquote>

 

[anonymous]

What's the likelihood that it is from the PFT machines we all share at CF Clinic? I do realize that we all use one-patient use disposable mouthpieces, but how do we <i>really</i> know that the insides of the machines aren't breeding grounds? Hopefully the filters on the mouthpieces catch the germs and they go no further than the mouthpiece??
Has anyone ever inquired about this & if so, what was the explanation given to you?

 

[Emily65Roses]

I've never asked, because I'd rather not know. Even if they're as clean as absolutely possible, unless they replaced the *entire* machine, someone is bound to get something that someone else left there. I could be totally wrong, but no matter how hard people try, you cannot control bacteria 100%, so it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

 

[anonymous]

my hospital now uses these great pft things....no more big machines. the technician brings in a laptop computer on a rolling table, and there is a tiny little device, that almost looks like a router for a computer (?) and then plastic tubing (like nebulizer tubing) and a mouthpiece gets hooked up to that. it is so great....i used to think the same things about the machines. even though they changed the big tubes and mouthpieces and everything, i never quite believed that nothing was being caught in those machines and then passed on.

when i was younger we all sat in the same tiny room, which was half waiting room and then the pft machine on the other side! they would only change the mouthpiece, not the tube! and you'd have to do the tests in front of everyone waiting. my mother would insist that they change the tubing for me, and they'd roll thier eyes at her...

15 or so years later, i somehow still caught b. cepacia (i have no doubt from the hospital) and they have finally copped on with thier hygiene practices.

what still kills me is that they only practice "precautions" for people like me, with cepacia, or mrsa. i think they should do it for everyone with cf...why wait until you get something bad to practice sterile behavior between patients????? ugh i could go on and on....

caitlin

 

[anonymous]

MRSA thrives for 72 hours on hard surfaces. So that lovely laptop that is brought into your room can be harboring MRSA.

 

[anonymous]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i><br>MRSA thrives for 72 hours on hard surfaces. So that lovely laptop that is brought into your room can be harboring MRSA.<hr></blockquote>

This is a good point - while it pays to try to avoid germs - you must also realize that it's not always possible to do so.

Good night everyone,

Kathy (Coll's Mom) who just logged out! <img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

well, luckily now someone cleans the laptops and machines thoroughly (i've watched them), and doesnt just pass them from room to room. plus, its a lot better than breathing out of some tube right after someone else.

caitlin

 

[julie]

I MAKE them change the hoses and all tubes before Mark will use the machine. I tell them to bill the extra cost to the insurance, it's not like they can't get it paid for in the doctors visit. YES it is possible for a CFer to contract MRSA in their lungs. Not sure if that has already been stated -too tired to read all of the posts right now.

 

[anonymous]

Julie- that is good, i am shocked however that your hospital still does not change the tubes. Its amazing how something that seems like such common sense has to be pushed upon health care providers!!!!

caitlin

 

[anonymous]

Everyone in the world carries some form of MRSA or staff in their airway. People can have their nostrils swabbed and most times there will be a positive result to the test. CF pt's just have a much weaker immunity than un-ill people. MRSA is not just a clinical thing. MRSA is in the community. There is much to understand about this disease and how some things can become others so quickly. A distant cousin of mine also has CF and contracted chicken pocks and ended up with COPD as an end result. How? I am not sure, but somehow the pocs caused her lungs to develope and even worse lung disease.

 

[anonymous]

All and every clinical machine is state guidelined to be cleaned between each and every patient. It is cleaned with a special solution that kills the bacteria.