What were they thinking?

[Pea-n-Me]

Can you be more specific?

Many hospitals have moved to a Patient Family Centered Care Model. You can google the term but basically it means that a patient's family is integral to his or her well being and recovery and therefore all members of a family are welcome to visit patients at any given time and in many places that previously would be off limits. So yes, babies are welcome in hospitals that utilize this care model.

As to a patient who is on precautions for MRSA and whether babies would be welcome to go in the room. The answer is yes, they would.

Infection control guidelines come to hospitals from the CDC and from the Departments of Public Health based on current research.

Hospital staff wear gowns and gloves in large part to prevent the spread of germs to other patients.

http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevent/healthcare/precautions.html#contact

In my hospital the visitor policy for patients on Contact Precautions is that they only need to wear protective gowns and gloves if they are participating in the care of the patient or if they are leaving the room to visit with another patient. However, good hand sanitation is essential going into and out of the room regardless. And this would be the case for anyone. If a baby or child was visiting a patient on contact precautions we would, besides the hand sanitiation guidelines, recommend they are carefully supervised.

From the CDC:

Visitors of Infected Patients

When visiting MRSA patients, individuals should follow the facility’s visitor policies. Casual contact—such as kissing, hugging, and touching—is usually acceptable. Visitors should avoid touching catheters or wound sites and should wash their hands before leaving an infected person's room.

Of course it's always up to parents whether they wish to bring a child in at all.

I have spent most of my life caring for patients. My own children, besides visiting my hospital unit from the time they were born, last month both joined me in the hospital room of my dying aunt despite her being on contact precautions. I would never dream of NOT having them there. It was a priveledge they got to participate in one of the most important moments of our loved one's life: her death. They practiced good washing and followed my lead.

The one thing I would implore people reading this to do is to not shun someone or deprive them of seeing grandkids because they have an infection. Just educate yourself, make sure the patient at home educates him or herself, and make sure everyone practices good handwashing.

When I was in the hospital, the staff wore gowns and gloves while in my room. Now that I am home, my family members do not have to do that. Why not?

Gowns and gloves are worn in the hospital to prevent the spread of MRSA to other patients from contaminated hands and clothing of health care workers. This is especially important because sick people are at higher risk of infection from MRSA.

At home, these are the ways you can help prevent spread of MRSA to your family members:
•wash your hands often with warm soapy water or use alcohol gel
•when soap and water are not available
shower after exercising or participating in sports
•protect skin to avoid cuts, tears, and abrasions
•cover cuts, tears, and sores on the skin with clean, dry dressings or bandages
•do not share personal items such as razors, towels, or clothing
•do not touch other people's skin infections
•routinely clean surfaces that have frequent contact with skin (chairs, toilet seats, doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, etc.)
•stay home if you have draining infections that need dressing changes during work or school hours

I was told I am "colonized" with MRSA on my skin. What are the risks of my spouse becoming infected by having close physical contact with me?

Being colonized with MRSA means that you carry it on your skin or in your nose but you have no signs or symptoms of infection. There is a small risk of transmitting MRSA to close contacts such as your spouse when you are colonized, but the risk is much less than when there is an active infection, with pus or drainage present on the skin.

Simple measures such as good hand washing, bathing or showering regularly, and covering skin wounds will help reduce the risk of transmission to close contacts.

I found out I have MRSA living in my nose. Can I hold my grandchildren?

Yes, you may hold your grandchildren, because the risk of transmitting MRSA to them is small. It is possible to spread MRSA by touching your nose and then touching someone else. Washing your hands with soap and water or alcohol gel after touching your nose and before touching others will help to prevent the spread of MRSA to others.

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/mrsa/faqs.htm#6

HTH RadioNate.

 

[locolala]

Many hospitals have moved to a Patient Family Centered Care Model. You can google the term but basically it means that a patient's family is integral to his or her well being and recovery and therefore all members of a family are welcome to visit patients at any given time and in many places that previously would be off limits. So yes, babies are welcome in hospitals that utilize this care model.

As to a patient who is on precautions for MRSA and whether babies would be welcome to go in the room. The answer is yes, they would.

Infection control guidelines come to hospitals from the CDC and from the Departments of Public Health based on current research.

Hospital staff wear gowns and gloves in large part to prevent the spread of germs to other patients.

http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevent/healthcare/precautions.html#contact

In my hospital the visitor policy for patients on Contact Precautions is that they only need to wear protective gowns and gloves if they are participating in the care of the patient or if they are leaving the room to visit with another patient. However, good hand sanitation is essential going into and out of the room regardless. And this would be the case for anyone. If a baby or child was visiting a patient on contact precautions we would, besides the hand sanitiation guidelines, recommend they are carefully supervised.

From the CDC:


Of course it's always up to parents whether they wish to bring a child in at all.

I have spent most of my life caring for patients. My own children, besides visiting my hospital unit from the time they were born, last month both joined me in the hospital room of my dying aunt despite her being on contact precautions. I would never dream of NOT having them there. It was a priveledge they got to participate in one of the most important moments of our loved one's life: her death. They practiced good washing and followed my lead.

The one thing I would implore people reading this to do is to not shun someone or deprive them of seeing grandkids because they have an infection. Just educate yourself, make sure the patient at home educates him or herself, and make sure everyone practices good handwashing.



HTH RadioNate.

I wish I could like this as you can on facebook.

I had MRSA when I was in the hospital having my daughter. I was on Iso, couldn't leave my room unless I was gowned with gloves and had Tegraderm on my sore. The staff had to wear gloves and gown when they came in, but family did not, they just had to wash their hands well.