MRSA
Posted By: MT on 2007-10-26
In Reply to: Need advice - ex has pulled my kid out of school re MRSA scare - 500 miles away
Cases have practicially quadrupled in my area - it's becoming a HUGE problem. Don't be too quick to jump all over your ex until you speak to the school personally and find out what caused him to do this.
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mrsa
I am sure the school has been taking precautions. My kids school has and no one in the school has it, it actually is just in the district. You know people really do not realize how common this is. My sister is an ER nurse and says she must see 8 cases of MRSA every weekend on one shift. I think he may be over reacting just a bit. I would call the school and see what they say. Doesn't your ex understand that really unless he is locked in a room forever he can run into this anywhere or even he can bring it home to him!
MRSA
The best way to protect oneself from bacterial infections, of course, is to keep one's hands away from one's face and to wash hands frequently.
I transcribe on patients who have had this or are suspected of having it all the time, and I do clinic work, although many have been in the hospital, which I believe is the "best" place to pick up MRSA.
Part of the problem is that not everyone realizes that the way many of us take antibiotics is part of the problem. People who do not finish the full course (guilty at times myself because I have a hard time remembering to take) cause the antibiotics to be less effective not just for themselves, but for everyone. I know most of you are aware of this, but several years ago, before I was an MT, my sister and I had a conversation about this and she misunderstood and thought (prior to our conversation) that it only affected the individual who was improperly using the antibiotic. I was surprised because she is very intelligent and has two college degrees, material science engineering and psychology, so it just says to me that it really does not matter how smart a person is, it's what they know (I am not college educated, BTW). Of course, even taking the full course as prescribed does not change the fact that bacteria become resistant over time. The other thing affecting how antibiotics become less and less effective is that doctors will prescribe and patients will take antibiotics when none are necessary. Sometimes the suspicion may be great enough to justify treatment prior to confirmation of a bacterial infection, but sometimes patients request these and are given them without "just cause".
Someone posted wondering about what the schools are supposed to do about the problem. I haven't seen much of the coverage about the current outbreaks, but my understanding is that the schools close in order to disinfect the entire building(s) before returning the students to classes, much like the post offices did with the anthrax scare situation after 09/11.
Like another said, life must go on, but the precautions of keeping hands away from face and washing frequently cannot be stressed enough, IMO, as the most effective protection one can afford themself at the present time.
Good luck!
Daughter has MRSA? sm
About 10 months ago my daughter had what looked like a swollen lymph node in her groin area on the right side (right in the crease where her panties rub it). Took her to a PA and she felt like it was exactly that, a swollen lympyh node and put her on antibiotics. That afternoon I typed a dictation where the patient had the same thing and they determined it was cat scratch fever. At the time my daughter had a huge cat scratch across her stomach. I called the PA back and she changed her medication and within a short time she was fine. About 6 months later the same thing again, took her to the same PA and this time after closer examination she said it was a cyst and I looked and also saw the pore in the center. Once again antibiotics, she said it might eventually have to be I&D'd but wanted to wait a little while longer. She found another one on Tuesday but this time on the left but in the same area. The PA has left the area and my daughter only wanted to see a female so I took her back to her pediatrician....she is about 40 minutes away and usually the wait is a couple of hours, the only reason we switched to the PA. She took one look and said MRSA. Gave her antibiotics and wants to see her back in a week. She says it is probably from a cut from shaving and wants her to throw her razor away and told my to clorox certain areas in the house. If it busts she wants me to take her to the hospital to have a culture. Now I don't know if I should get a second opinion, wait a week, or what. I know how serious MRSA can be, but I also know it is treatable. Believe me, I am not freaked out about this, but want to make sure we are handling this properly. Any opinions?
mrsa=toxic shock
Did she express anything to get a culture...that is the only way to be sure, and also to be sure what antibiotics she needs. I don't want to scare you, but I nearly died of this ib 1994...I had a cyst/boil. I was waiting for it to get big enough to drain...I get these about every three yrs. This was in my armpit, from shaving. It spread throughout my whole system. Three yrs before the one on my big behind got bigger, but since it was not near any vascular supply, it was just painful rather than deadly.
You can't take this stuff seriously enough. Most of the older antibiotics will not touch it.
The main thing is to get something to culture. That is the ONLY way to be sure what you are dealing with.
I read MRSA first diagnosed in 1961
There are things that unless you pick them up, may never know. I have an example: Had carotid ultrasound done. I asked for and got the report (I save any and all that I can including lab work) and the neurologist said ok. Well, happened to have 50% stenosis of the left carotid artery. I asked is that a concern to you and he said well, it should be watched ever so often. Another time, going to have elective surgery done, got EKG and lab done ahead for that. The EKG read abnormal (this was one I was picking up from a previous appendectomy surgery I had). I then asked my internist about it. Never mentioned to me at all. Needless to say when I see abnormal on something, only surgery is a have to surgery, not elective. I see mistakes all the time on my records, not sent out but diagnosis for a scan- had it showing me having hypotension and I have hypertension. Even when the people in the office doing the click and go reports before seeing the doctor, have found errors there. These are not outsourced reports, done right here in the USA. I always get copies of everything.
Need advice - ex has pulled my kid out of school re MRSA scare
My son lives with his dad 500 miles away. It was his birthday today, he's 13 and in 8th grade. I called to wish him happy birthday. He said his dad had pulled him out of school due to paranoia about MRSA (staph infections) outbreaks. I asked him if there'd been any in his school, he said no, just some of the surrounding communities. He said his dad won't let him go back to school until the school "does something abou it". The ex got on the phone demanding I look up two vaccinations for it online and give my opinion "because I'm in the health field". I type radiology, for goodness sake, and even if I was familiar with the names of the drugs, it doesn't mean I'd know all about them just because I could spell them!
Upon researching this, it appears the chances of getting fatal MRSA are pretty slim, and I had much more chance getting it when I worked on site in the hospital than my son does (son does not play sports if he can keep from it). I think my ex is off the deep end, and I'm afraid I might have to take him to court (again) to force him to let the child go to school. His school is closed tomorrow so I'll have to wait until Monday to call them and see how long my son has actually been absent.
Anybody have any advice for me? How long should I give my ex to work through his paranoia before I call a lawyer (again)? Has anyone else taken their kids out of school over this?
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