Quote From: patriciaincaI just wanted you to know I got your reply. I will note the MRSA infection in all my future medical paperwork, and will tell the doctors.
I am also wondering about the ways MRSA is spread. If it is in your nose, would you only be able to spread it if you touch your nose? So, for example, after I have surgery (to repair a severly degenerated achilles tendon, that will require a tendon transfer & graft-obviosuly not something I want to get infected!!) would wearing gloves & washing hands be all I need to minimze the chance of being reinfected? Or is it that MRSA could be 'in' the body in such a way that I could end up with another MRSA infection even if we took hand washing & glove wearing precatuions? As in do you have to 'touch your nose & then touch an open sore/wound' to get infected? Or does it just lay dormant in the body until another flare up?
Just trying to understand the risks, given that I have already had an MRSA infection.
Thank you for the info...
Right now, I'm sensing you're concerned about your surgical incision becoming infected. The chances it's in your blood lying dormant and ready to "attack" your surgical site are pretty small since your previous infection was superficial (in the skin) and most likely community-acquired.
About your surgical incision:
I would suggest only handling your surgical wound after hand washing but then again, I'd suggest that to all patients.
We work with the body from a clean area to a dirty area, meaning we wouldn't change a dressing on a surgical incision (which is considered clean) immediately after wiping our bottoms, privates, noses, etc.(dirty). Rather, you would change the dressing and then continue to the dirty areas. I also suggest putting this to practice.
Here's a link that may help: http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
