MIL has been in and out of the hospital for the last couple of weeks due to an active MRSA infection in her leg. She has an open picc line and goes to the hospital daily for treatment on an outpatient basis. I am worried about going to see her this weekend for mother's day because of this. DH thinks I should go and that I will be fine as long as I don't touch her leg (shudder). I feel like there is no sense exposing myself to something like that during my first trimester, and would rather just say I am sick and stay home. I know MIL will be upset if I don't go, but to be honest, there really isn't any pleasing her, anyway.
So what do you think? Is DH right and I should just go or should I stay home?
Post by gerberdaisy on May 7, 2014 15:11:22 GMT -5
I'm usually really easy going about everything, but MRSA is no joke. I was hospitalized with an infection last year and the nurses all acted so cautious around me before we knew what it was. It is so hard to get rid of. I might make up an excuse to not go.
I'd go, but I've also exposed to MRSA more than a handful of times without issue. If you are careful about what you touch, and wash your hands often, the chances of contracting MRSA are very, very small.
If you don't want to go, though, just fake sick or tell them that your doctor said that you can't be exposed.
My initial thought was that I wouldn't go. MRSA scares me even when I'm not pregnant. My friend's H had it and was very sick and in the hospital.
I found this article though: www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/mrsa-during-pregnancy-serious-problem and it sounds like it's pretty tough to catch, so if you take some precautions, you'll probably be fine. I'd wear a mask, wash your hands, and cover open wounds if you have any, but it sounds like you'd probably be fine.
The issue is that she doesn't know I am pregnant and I am not ready to tell her because she has a history of spreading the news around when we ask her not to, so certain precautions, like wearing a man, would be difficult to take.
If you don't feel comfortable with the risk, then definitely fake sick and stay home.
But seriously, as long as you don't touch her open MRSA sore, or anything that came in contact with her sore, and wash your hands well (with warm water, soap, and a PAPER towel to dry), the odds are very, very slim that you'll contract MRSA. The majority of MRSA transfers happen in a healthcare facility, and actually travel via staff from sick person to sick person. Very few staff actually contract MRSA themselves.
It's a level of personal comfort, though. I still eat lunch meat and sushi because the risk of contamination is tiny. I'd still hang out with my family member with MRSA (on the skin) because the risk of transfer is tiny and it's worth it to me. Would I risk it for my ILs though? Maybe not, LOL.
Just FYI though - if your husband goes without you, give him a speech on staying germ-free as well. He's just as likely to carry it home as you would be.
MRSA is spread by contact. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after going in and out of her room. Have your H do the same. I'm around MRSA every single day, and it's very preventable. Simple hand washing is all you need to do.
Honestly you will have more of a chance of catching it in the hospital then from a visit with you mil. My dad had 3 different antibiotic resistant infections in a very long hospital stay. We were just told to wash our hands. I would go personally.
MRSA is spread by contact. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after going in and out of her room. Have your H do the same. I'm around MRSA every single day, and it's very preventable. Simple hand washing is all you need to do.
I know this intellectually, but a few years ago my H suffered from a series of MRSA infections (he's a physician). He had to have an abscess drained on one part of his body, then a month later a new sore would appear elsewhere on his body. I guess he could have prevented this by simple hand washing, but it seems to be a pretty wily bug.
I think I would try to not go. What's the point if you have to wear a mask and wash your hands every 5 seconds? PG people's immune systems are suppressed already. Even her in and out of the hospital means shes bringing home more germs than usual.
I think I would try to not go. What's the point if you have to wear a mask and wash your hands every 5 seconds? PG people's immune systems are suppressed already. Even her in and out of the hospital means shes bringing home more germs than usual.
Do you know how long it is until she's better?
Currently 10w3d. I don't know when she will get better- hopefully in the next week or two.
So if you'll be 11 weeks by Sunday anyway - could your DH spill the beans to her a week early? Maybe say you have morning sickness or just aren't felling very well enough to go and visit people? Maybe you could call her that day if it would help ease you not being there?
Sorry you have to deal with her in all this. To me its a lot that you all gotta go over there for mother's day in the first place!
Yeah, I wouldn't risk it in the first trimester, especially. You'd never forgive yourself if something happened. And your H better scrub down when he gets home!
So if you'll be 11 weeks by Sunday anyway - could your DH spill the beans to her a week early? Maybe say you have morning sickness or just aren't felling very well enough to go and visit people? Maybe you could call her that day if it would help ease you not being there?
Sorry you have to deal with her in all this. To me its a lot that you all gotta go over there for mother's day in the first place!
Yeah, I think this is going to be the plan. She only has to keep it to herself for a little while.