MRSA

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wobblingTime Jul 2011 2:00pm, 6 Jul 2011 222 posts	0 wobblingTime Hello, my mother went into hospital on Monday for scheduled surgery to her ankle. Today she tells me she has MRSA. Reading the NHS site, I'm guessing she's tested positive for having MRSA on her when admitted, but not actually being infected. She's been moved off the main ward and sounds chirpy enough (tho she's probably off her box on pain meds following her surgery yesterday). So, can any of you lovely fetchie medic types tell me please; is this all very routine and what course of action her doctors will take? She's up in Newcastle and I'm about 300 miles away. I hadn't planned on visiting her in hospital, but today's news rather changes things. Should I be making my way north? She doesn't particularly want me to, but then she 'hates a fuss'. I know I'm probably panicking, but MRSA is one of those things that rather frightens me.
Footpad Jul 2011 2:10pm, 6 Jul 2011 4,963 posts	0 Footpad Unfortunately MRSA is now a common bug in the community and hospitals. She will be isolated in a side room and should be having the appropriate ointments and potions to wash with. MRSA only really causes problems if it gets into surgical wounds and delays healing or in immuno-compromised people. I hope your mother recovers well with no undue causes for concern and will soon be up and about as planned.
plodding hippo Jul 2011 2:32pm, 6 Jul 2011 35,521 posts	0 plodding hippo what footpad said she is lucky they went ahead with the surgery, usually the swabs are done pre surgery and have to be clear as long as no wound infection, she should be fine
wobblingTime Jul 2011 2:37pm, 6 Jul 2011 223 posts	0 wobblingTime thanks both.
HellsBells Jul 2011 3:01pm, 6 Jul 2011 8,510 posts	0 HellsBells thirded the above - I'm forever getting notifications from the hospital that one of our patients has swabbed positive in the preadmission clinic we prescribe various lotions and creams - can't remember exactly what as it's all on a standard template - and everyone's happy
wobblingTime Jul 2011 3:06pm, 6 Jul 2011 224 posts	0 wobblingTime thanks. I am feeling slightly less sick now.
Gizzard Puke Jul 2011 6:00pm, 7 Jul 2011 123 posts	0 Gizzard Puke MRSA's usually treated with mupirocin nasal cream and a chlorhexidine type body wash for around 5 days. She should be fine. It's usually only the elderly with long term health problems or immuno compromised people that have any problems dealing with MRSA (as has been said before). Most places will isolate MRSA patients, but if a unit is confident in it's cross infection prevention (bourne out by regular monitoring of x-infection rates and septicaemic episodes not just beacuse they think they're good enough) then that's not always necessary.