I work in a hospital...Do I have MRSA?

Question

I have worked in a hospital for 5 years as a nursing assistant, everyone that works in the hospital says that we all probably have MRSA in our noses, but not to ever get tested for it because then they won;t let you work.

I try to be careful with using isolation precautions, do you think I DO have MRSA???

Should I ask my doctor to test me anyway?

How bad will this be if I have it when I get older?

Answer 1

I can't believe this. Someone actually told you not to get tested for MRSA because they won't let you work?! You can't work if you're dead.

MRSA, if you actually get it, can kill you. I'm not sure about the symptoms of MRSA, but talk to your doctor if you think you might have it. But, it's not like you just have it forever and don't treat it. If you really get it, it can kill you. Talk to your doctor. I'd rather not get to work than be dead.

And whoever told you not to test for it in case you can't work should be fired.

Answer 2

MRSA can be fatal

Answer 3

I doubt you have it. But their is a possibility you could. No if it is treated then it won't be bad when you get older. Do you have any of the symptoms of MRSA? I would suggest just going to your regular doctor have them check you out and run this concern through the doctor and see if he or she will test you for MRSA

Answer 4

A lot of people are carriers for SA (staph aureus).

Truthfully, I have never heard statistics on how many health professionals are MRSA carriers. MRSA is mega nasty super bad SA.

If you have no symptoms, don't worry about it. It is the hsopital's job to control infections, and they probably swab you guys for testing regularly anyhow. Or at least a good hospital would.

Answer 5

I work in a hospital lab actually growing the bacteria that is called MRSA, and we all cultured ourselves about 3 years ago, all of us were negative.  As long as you wash your hands you probably are just fine.  Also I don't believe they can stop you from working because you have MRSA, they may just require you to use more precautions.  

My friend's daughter got MRSA when she was born, she is now 6 years old, and no one else in their family has ever gotten it because they just really educated themselves on how to handle it.

best of luck, and I don't really think you need to get tested unless you're having symptoms, like abcesses that are popping up in random places or ones that won't go away on their own.

Answer 6

I am a CCMA

No you do not have MRSA because you would know if you had it..

While it is Air born it is unlikely that you have it because you would end up with either a sever respiratory condition or sores..

If you are taking Universal and Standard Precautions you should be fine.. If you show ANY signs of having it than YES get tested.. If you do have it you will lose your job because you can not work with patients.. You would qualify for Social Security Benefits because this is a drug resistant strain of Staph and can not be cured..

Yes it is bad if you have it at an older age because you are least likely to fight off an infection like this and you can die from it..

I am surprise that you are not more informed on MRSA being that you are a Nursing Assistant

Answer 7

I don't know where you heard that you can't work if you have MRSA in your nostrils.  MRSA is not a disease, its just a particular strain of bacteria (and remember, we all have bacteria in all different areas of our bodies that do not cause infection; they are simply colonized) that is colonized in the nasal passageways.  It cannot be transmitted to a patient unless you sneeze on your patient (something I hope you will never do) or wipe your nose and then smear it on the patient (ditto).  In other words, normal handwashing and infection control practices will prevent you from ever transmitting the bacteria to any patient.  I don't know of any hospitals that are refusing to hire people based on MRSA status.  In fact, many hospitals are routinely swabbing all employees just as a way of tracking the different types of antibiotic resistant microbes out there, to learn more about them.  In conclusion, I wouldn't assume that I have MRSA just because I had worked in a hospital for 5 years.  It is highly possible, if you have taken a sincere interest in following good handwashing policies, that you do not have MRSA anywhere on your body.  I have been a nurse for 5 years and was a nurse tech for 3 years before that and I do not have it.  If you do have it, it likely will never cause a problem.  It is only when an actual infection occurs that we run into trouble; not because the MRSA is any more deadly than other common infection strains, but simply because it does not respond as well to antibiotics.  There are risks to any occupation you may choose, and MRSA is certainly a risk you should factor into your decision about your choice of occupation.  I don't think it is worth it to leave a job you otherwise enjoy simply because of the risk of MRSA infection.  

Answer 8

i'd imagine you are a caryer and not actualy infected, as far as i know you can only get it through open wounds and incisions, you can probably get rid of it by giving your hands and the rest of you a good scrub with soap when you finish your shift, as far as i know it is not too bad, the main threat is if you are infected at old age, but onc your body fights it you become imune and only a caryers, i'd wait till old age then get your self tested, if you do have it, then sue for damages. like people that were made to work with aspestos in WW2