What were they thinking?

[wdwmom2]

The baby and grandmother see each other nearly every day at least when she is not in the hospital. There were plenty of people to keep the baby. And as far as the grandmother maybe not coming out of the hospital, that is a very real possibility in this situation. I still don't think that is a good enough reason to take a baby around something so dangerous.

So, was the grandmother's MRSA hospital acquired??? Because if not, the baby has already been exposed, "nearly every day".

Like I said before, I probably wouldn't take an infant into a hospital to visit someone. But not because of MRSA. There are MUCH worse things to be exposed to than MRSA!!!

 

[Shelly888]

MRSA is scary, can be difficult to treat, and can lead to serious consequences....but, for the most part, it is not the killer microbe some make it out to be. The microbe to be running for the hills if anyone in your 'circle' tests positive for is multi-drug resistant pseudomonas. It is not anywhere near as common as MRSA(thank GOD!!), but it far, far, far more dangerous.

The chances of someone getting a MRSA infection are pretty high, but typically most do pretty well(obviously not all). The chances of getting a MDR pseudomonas infection are very rare, but that will almost always lead to death.

 

[dakcp2001]

Wanna hear

My son 1st got MRSA after being bitten by bed bugs in a hotel in Georgia.

I don't think the bugs themselves were carriers but the open sores certainly made him susceptible.

I'm actually wondering about the pig connection because we were at my cousin's farm when he still had sores from the bites. They don't have pigs but they do have horses and chickens. And there could have been pigs at one point.

Oh dear, what hotel in GA was this? Please share.

 

[laurie31]

MRSA is scary, can be difficult to treat, and can lead to serious consequences....but, for the most part, it is not the killer microbe some make it out to be. The microbe to be running for the hills if anyone in your 'circle' tests positive for is multi-drug resistant pseudomonas. It is not anywhere near as common as MRSA(thank GOD!!), but it far, far, far more dangerous.

The chances of someone getting a MRSA infection are pretty high, but typically most do pretty well(obviously not all). The chances of getting a MDR pseudomonas infection are very rare, but that will almost always lead to death.

MDR pseudomonas is usually only seen in critically ill patients, usually those with underlying health condtions, and while it is VERY bad, it's not a certain death sentence. One source I found cited a 21% mortality, while another cited 34%. While that is extrememly high - anything that kills a third of those who get it is very serious - MOST patients will survive.

And to illustrate how rare it is...the study I read was conducted in a large Boston hospital with 1200 beds and 70,000 admissions per year. During the course of the 4 year study, there were 22 cases.


Back to the OP - I don't think any of the hospitals where I live allow children under 14 to visit except on the maternity floors. Exeptions are made for critically ill patients and siblings of hospitalized children on a case-by-case basis and the child must be medically screened first. Kids can spread germs as well as aquire them in a hospital setting.

I would not take my baby to a hospital unless the patient was a close family member who was dying and wanted to see the baby. And then I would be extremely cautious.

 

[Coconut36]

MRSA isn't airborne so it really shouldn't matter. MRSA is also everywhere. One of the greatest regrets I have is when my Grandma was ill in the hospital (not contagious) is that I only took my children once to see her (she passed within 6 weeks). She loved them beyond words and I kept them away not because I was worried what they would pick up from her but what she would get from them (my oldest was in his first year at preschool and bringing home more illness than usual).

I have a family friend who has dealt with MRSA and it was my understanding visitors were not at risk as long as they weren't touching.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My neighbor has been very sick for a few weeks. Multiple health problems but right now she has been in the hospital for a week fighting a staph infection and also has MRSA. Two very bad bugs to have. She has 2 daughters, both grown and well educated women. One daughter has an 8 month old baby. They brought that baby to the hospital to see her!!! Oh but she didn't touch the baby she only kissed her. Have they lost their minds? I told the girl please don't take that baby back up there. If that baby gets what her grandmother has she will die. I don't understand what these supposedly educated people were thinking. Sure the grandmother didn't touch the baby (if you don't count kissing her) but the mother touched things and then touched the baby. I told the one girl if it was me I would even change clothes after seeing her in the hospital before I touched the baby. Now I am not a germaphobe by any means but they have signs on the door to her room to wash before and after leaving. Shouldn't that be a clue not to take a small baby in there?

May I ask what you think is going to happen when neighbor comes home?

 

[happygirl]

I don't see the big deal, babies could get that anywhere.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm curious about these hospitals that don't allow kids. I thought that was something that went out 20 yrs ago. Every hospital that I have ever worked at or any of my parents or family has been in has allowed kids in no problem.
The only place that there is usually an issue is the ICU and even there with permission they can go in.

This is in little towns and big cities. I know Allegheny General has no problem with it and that is a large hospital, my DD visited my sister several times when she was only 4, might have been 3.

I know occasionally during a really bad flu outbreak they will suspend visiting by kids but that is the only time I know in a long time.

 

[Hannathy]

May I ask what you think is going to happen when neighbor comes home?

exactly

 

[Myothername]

This was a hospital acquired infection. She was in the hospital 2 weeks ago for tests but they were unable to do them because she was to sick. She got the infection from the iv site. It quickly spread to about 12 different spots with one being about the size of a dinner plate. This woman could have easily died.

She did get out of the hospital today but felt the need to accompany her husband to a walk in clinic because he was not feeling well.

As for what will happen when she gets home I have no doubt she will be over at the baby's house the first chance she gets. I wash my hands of the whole situation. If she wants to play the marter and not take care of herself go ahead. As for the baby, if her daughter is that stupid to expose her knowlingly to this...well I will keep my mouth shut on this one. Not thinking very nice thoughts.

I understand staph and MRSA are everywhere but why knowingly expose your baby when it is not necessary? I just don't get it.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This was a hospital acquired infection. She was in the hospital 2 weeks ago for tests but they were unable to do them because she was to sick. She got the infection from the iv site. It quickly spread to about 12 different spots with one being about the size of a dinner plate. This woman could have easily died.

She did get out of the hospital today but felt the need to accompany her husband to a walk in clinic because he was not feeling well.

As for what will happen when she gets home I have no doubt she will be over at the baby's house the first chance she gets. I wash my hands of the whole situation. If she wants to play the marter and not take care of herself go ahead. As for the baby, if her daughter is that stupid to expose her knowlingly to this...well I will keep my mouth shut on this one. Not thinking very nice thoughts.

I understand staph and MRSA are everywhere but why knowingly expose your baby when it is not necessary? I just don't get it.

A dinner plate???

 

[Coconut36]

I'm curious about these hospitals that don't allow kids. I thought that was something that went out 20 yrs ago. Every hospital that I have ever worked at or any of my parents or family has been in has allowed kids in no problem.
The only place that there is usually an issue is the ICU and even there with permission they can go in.

This is in little towns and big cities. I know Allegheny General has no problem with it and that is a large hospital, my DD visited my sister several times when she was only 4, might have been 3.

I know occasionally during a really bad flu outbreak they will suspend visiting by kids but that is the only time I know in a long time.

In general it is the same here in my experience. I do know however that for ICU and a few other floors they do restrict children I believe it is 7 and under during RSV season to reduce the risk to the patients on those floors (as those patients are at particular risk if exposed to RSV). That restriction seems to occur most years.

 

[YodaGirl]

I don't understand people. I really don't.

One of the questions we were asked at the hospital, when we had DS, was whether or not anyone in our family had - or had recently had - a MRSA infection.

 

[Coconut36]

I don't understand people. I really don't.

One of the questions we were asked at the hospital, when we had DS, was whether or not anyone in our family had - or had recently had - a MRSA infection.

In reference to what? Those people couldn't visit or they were going to speak to you about procedures to make it safe for them to touch/hold the baby?

If she wasn't handling the baby I fail to see the issue because you don't pick it up by breathing the same air as someone with MRSA

 

[YodaGirl]

In reference to what? Those people couldn't visit or they were going to speak to you about procedures to make it safe for them to touch/hold the baby?

If she wasn't handling the baby I fail to see the issue because you don't pick it up by breathing the same air as someone with MRSA

I wasn't clear.

I don't understand why people would knowingly expose a baby to MRSA.

She didn't touch the baby? Okay. MRSA can live on surfaces for days, weeks, and according to some sources, over 6 months.

She didn't have to touch the baby to expose him/her to MRSA.

 

[YodaGirl]

.

 

[Coconut36]

I wasn't clear.

I don't understand why people would knowingly expose a baby to MRSA.

She didn't touch the baby? Okay. MRSA can live on surfaces for days, weeks, and according to some sources, over 6 months.

She didn't have to touch the baby to expose him/her to MRSA.

OK..does that mean nobody should ever take an infant into the hospital? She said it was hospital acquired MRSA so if the baby wasn't crawling around or touching things in the hospital room what is the issue?

MRSA is everywhere and could be picked up outside the hospital and where there is no known active infection as well. I don't know..it doesn't sound to me like the mother took undue risk with her infant unless the kids was touching/crawling all over the room. As I said..it's a big regret to me my Grandma didn't get to see my boys more than once before she passed (I kept them out to keep her safe) so it likely colors my view on how I would act if I had a seriously ill family member.

 

[YodaGirl]

OK..does that mean nobody should ever take an infant into the hospital? She said it was hospital acquired MRSA so if the baby wasn't crawling around or touching things in the hospital room what is the issue?

MRSA is everywhere and could be picked up outside the hospital and where there is no known active infection as well. I don't know..it doesn't sound to me like the mother took undue risk with her infant unless the kids was touching/crawling all over the room. As I said..it's a big regret to me my Grandma didn't get to see my boys more than once before she passed (I kept them out to keep her safe) so it likely colors my view on how I would act if I had a seriously ill family member.

Chances are likely that the hospital would clean a known-to-be contaminated room much better than grandma did.

I don't think that the fact that she acquired it in the hospital has any bearing on whether or not that it will spread.

I agree that you could possibly touch any object that had unknowingly be contaminated. I believe that the difference is that she knew her relative had MRSA, which means she also knew that the chances of a MRSA-contaminated surface was higher.

I understand wanting relatives to see our children. My grandpa will never see my son. He's in a nursing home. There is a room across from his that is occupied by two gentlemen who have some sort of contagious illness (when the two men were discovered to have it, my grandpa was moved to the room across the hall, and the two men were moved in together). I have no idea what it is, other than it is contagious and they have strict guidelines for that room, and those caring for patients in that room, posted on the hall wall by the door. When we go in, we touch nothing. The front doors are automatic and his door is always propped open, so we don't even touch them.

My grandpa is in very bad shape, and will likely not live much longer. I'm sad that he will die without seeing my son. As sad as that makes me, I could not live with myself if my son were to get sick because of a visit to see my grandpa. It's just not worth it to me.

 

[Hannathy]

Chances are likely that the hospital would clean a known-to-be contaminated room much better than grandma did.

I don't think that the fact that she acquired it in the hospital has any bearing on whether or not that it will spread.

I agree that you could possibly touch any object that had unknowingly be contaminated. I believe that the difference is that she knew her relative had MRSA, which means she also knew that the chances of a MRSA-contaminated surface was higher.

I understand wanting relatives to see our children. My grandpa will never see my son. He's in a nursing home. There is a room across from his that is occupied by two gentlemen who have some sort of contagious illness (when the two men were discovered to have it, my grandpa was moved to the room across the hall, and the two men were moved in together). I have no idea what it is, other than it is contagious and they have strict guidelines for that room, and those caring for patients in that room, posted on the hall wall by the door. When we go in, we touch nothing. The front doors are automatic and his door is always propped open, so we don't even touch them.

My grandpa is in very bad shape, and will likely not live much longer. I'm sad that he will die without seeing my son. As sad as that makes me, I could not live with myself if my son were to get sick because of a visit to see my grandpa. It's just not worth it to me.

You know that makes no sense, correct?

There is no way your child will be infected by whatever is in that room if you take them into your grandfathers room. If it could be caught by being in a room across the hallway then everyone in the home would have it.

Your son would be at less of a risk in the home where they are aware of what ever it is and taking precautions than if you take him to the grocery store or to church.

You should take him to see your Grandfather.

 

[YodaGirl]

You know that makes no sense, correct?

There is no way your child will be infected by whatever is in that room if you take them into your grandfathers room. If it could be caught by being in a room across the hallway then everyone in the home would have it.

Your son would be at less of a risk in the home where they are aware of what ever it is and taking precautions than if you take him to the grocery store or to church.

You should take him to see your Grandfather.

You think I'm wrong; I think you are wrong. My pediatrician agrees with me.

I will not take him.