Anyone know anything about MRSA Staph infections?!

[JoyRenee]

One of my little nephews (2 1/2 yrs old) may have MRSA-Staph infection. He got what looked like a little pimple on his nose and it turned black and started pussing and became infected. This was a 2-3 days ago.

Yesterday we were all at DH's parents' house and the kids all play together. He mostly kept to himself (he's bashful) but he still handled toys that the other kids played with afterwards. None of us suspected Staph. We just thought he got a nasty bug bite or spider bite. Well his mom took him to the doctor and they are testing him for MRSA-Staph and they are 98% sure that is what it is.

I'm really worried my daughters could contract this! I guess we've all already been exposed and I'm not sure there's anything left to be done in way of prevention. If anyone has information on this and knows first-hand information on it, please talk to me! I'm reading that in some cases it can lead to death and is resistant to ordinary Staph medications.

And I do plan on calling their pediatrician tomorrow to see what they think. More than likely I'm just over-reacting but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

[Sunkissed19]

my mom got mrsa from the hospital when she got an ovary removed a couple years back..shes only had one out break since the initial one but she had to keep it covered and wash her hands a lot....ur daughters should be ok unless they had open wounds that they had near him or touching him...cuz it is really contagious but you have to touch it..it has to get into your system. my mom took a lot of precautions like not letting any of us share her towels etc. but as long as he didnt like rub toys on his face and then ur little girls stuck the toys in their mouths...they will be just fine. always good to be cautious though!

[Sunkissed19]

my mom got mrsa from the hospital when she got an ovary removed a couple years back..shes only had one out break since the initial one but she had to keep it covered and wash her hands a lot....ur daughters should be ok unless they had open wounds that they had near him or touching him...cuz it is really contagious but you have to touch it..it has to get into your system. my mom took a lot of precautions like not letting any of us share her towels etc. but as long as he didnt like rub toys on his face and then ur little girls stuck the toys in their mouths...they will be just fine. always good to be cautious though!

[debgunn23]

hmm...so im about to deliver soon, would it be a bad idea to have my mother hold my baby?? I would hate to do that especially since its her first. So now that she will always have it i cant ever use her razor? (not that i would but just to get an idea) I know shes almost done taking antibiotics, she had a horrible reaction. She had REALLY bad constant headaches and nausea so they switch antibiotics, these are going better i guess.

[JoyRenee]

I re-read what I wrote. I don't mean to say we live in filth. My house is very *clean* but I don't have to use Lysol on every surface every single day. Hope that makes BETTER and cleaner sense! Because I am a neat freak and don't want to come off sounding like we're swimming in our dirty clothes and dishes (yuck)!

[JoyRenee]

Hopefully we've all already been "colonized".

My feeling is that he contracted it from his sister at some point (she got it when she was a newborn from the hospital nursery). They've all shared foods and drinks in the past so I guess this is just one of those things we'll have to keep an eye out for!

I'm not the type of mom that has to have her children bathe every single day. It was always my understanding that children should have baths (unless absolutely filthy and stinky or if they come into contact with something nasty) every other day. So I do not sanitize my house from top to bottom.

Fingers crossed our immune systems are in full gear!

And please pray for my little nephew. Poor thing's nose is VERY painful!

[KeyD]

MRSA doesn't go away with antibiotics, once you have it you will always have it. your initial wound will heal but the virus will remain in your system. It "colonizes" which means it lays dormant, but you can still spread it.

[Latrice414]

MRSA is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or through contact with items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection (e.g., towels, sheets, sports equipment, bandages, razors). Breaks in the skin such as cuts or abrasions can allow MRSA to enter the body and cause infection. Unsanitary living conditions or participation in contact sports can increase the risk of
MRSA transmission.

I would just keep an eye open since your kids were playing with toys.  I work at a hospital and a nursing home and people have gotten mrsa in all types of places.  And some people get mrsa bcuz they have been on antibiotics for long periods of times so there body becomes resistant to those antibiotics and you cant use them so you end up using the next line of antibiotics which is vancomycin.  

[JoyRenee]

Thank you all for your responses! I can't express my gratitude enough. Your information has helped. All I'm reading online is how people DIE from it!!! It's scaring me!

He had a bandaid on his nose most of the time on Sunday, when we were all together. Then my MIL suggested putting a baking soda paste on his nose to see if it helped so his father put the paste on him (remember, this was before he went to the doctor and we didn't know what it was). His nose hurt so bad he wouldn't touch it. So hopefully it stay confined.

He is on two medications (not sure which ones) just to be safe. They'll get the test results Wed. to confirm if it is MRSA or not. It most likely is, though.

[whatisit00]

I believe I should mention that doctors often prescribe the Antibiotic I was put on for MRSA.  (Medrol) People often have allergic reactions to this Antiboitic because it contains Sulfa.

[whatisit00]

I wouldn't worry too much. Disinfect any areas (which I'm sure you have already done.) Washing your hands constantly wouldn't hurt. I had a Staph infection when I was a few weeks pregnant. (Wasn't aware at the time.) It was awful. I had a horrible boil ,and eventually saw a doctor after I got horribly Ill (It was like the most severe flu like symptoms.) They had to cut it open, and drain it. As you may know already they pack the wound with gauze to allow it to drain over a period of days.
They tested me for MRSA, But had already put me on the Antibiotic Bactrim.
I started feeling better over the next few days besides some Nausea. Unfortunately for me I developed an allergic reaction to the Bactrim causing me to break out in hives that covered my entire body. (This was when I was half way threw with my prescription.)  I went back to the doctor, and they put me on Medrol.

My baby, and I are now fine.

If you start to notice any changes in your skin see a doctor immediately. Although I think you will be fine.

Let me know how this turns out.

[leighanne143]

joy- it would have to get into an open area on your daughter.  it is hihgly contagious and he should get on anti-bitoics right away but as long as your daughters did have cuts or put the shared toys in their mouths they should be ok.  also its passed by the infected persons wound so i am sure that he was not rubbing his nose on the toys.

make sure you keep an eye out for any sores on your daughters but they should be ok.

i run a group home so i know about this yucky stuff

[JoyRenee]

Staph infections primarily come from hospitals and health care settings. But most people carry Staph in their nose but it doesn't affect them. I'm hoping that we'll all be fine and that my nephew will get better. His nose looks AWFUL! It's a huge boil and it got really red and angry around the boil.

I'm reading that it is contagious through touch, especially through open sores, cuts, wounds. So definitely wash your hands constantly!!! I'm pregnant, too, and now I'm freaking out about getting it and something happening. Ugh- I hate worrying!

[debgunn23]

actually..now that i think about it i should be careful now tht im ready to pop anytime. I dont want my baby to get it... hmm...

[debgunn23]

My mother got mrsa last week. She has this stomach infection of some sort and has to put padding inside the cut. Im not sure what it is because i didnt want to look lol But apparently she contracted it and they just give her antibiotics for 10 days and it should clear up. It takes a little bit to get, im around my mother all the time and i havent gotten it neither did my father. But if its still a worry you can always check with your doc. But def call doc if they get a fever.