My 10 year old has a small pimple on the back of her thigh. We have been dealing with CA MRSA since April 2010 when my younger daughter aged 7 got a boil on her leg. It responded to antibiotics but she has had several reoccurences. I also got MRSA as an abcess under my left armpit which required surgery to drain. It too responded to antibiotics and healed. My older daughter has never been confirmed as having MRSA. In fact all three of us have tested negative for MRSA in our nose and I tested negative under my arm. My question is: is it okay to let my older daughter have a sleepover when she has the pimple? We covered the pimple which is not draining and informed the parents of her friend about the CA MRSA. I am terrified of giving it to anyone else. My husband says that it isn't confirmed that the pimple is in fact MRSA. I want to keep my kids home and not have them socialize but realize that this is out of fear. How do I protect other people from this? We do all the MRSA contact precautions even though we aren't currently diagnosed with MRSA like washing or sanitizing hands with Purell, not sharing towels, washing clothes daily, changing sheets often and cleaning with bleach several times a weeks. I am nurse and after having read so many horror stories about it on the web, I am terrified of it killing my kids or harming someone else. BTW. the parents of my daughter's friend were okay with her spending the night when we informed them about the MRSA. I don't want my kids to be isolated or shunned. What is practical yet safe solution to this? What would you do as a mom?
we all had MRSA too, i wouldn't do it. didn't all you guys get "decolonized' at once (the nose/butt stuff) that's what we did and we didn't get it again.
While I don't have to deal with this for my own household, I do have family members who have this. I have one family member who has several open sores now that are, in fact, draining. We spoke to a wound care specialist and we were informed that as long as we don't have any open wounds of our own that will come in contact w/ the drainage, use rubber gloves on our hands while tending the infected area and wash before eating, etc., keep the infected area covered and all should be fine. We were also told that we stand as much of a chance to contact this just by shopping for groceries as we do touching an infected person. I have taught my children to use caution around these family members, but not to ignore them. If you have informed the other parents and they are ok with the situation, then I would be as well.
My daughter had MRSA and I was told she did not need to be kept from contact with anyone as long as they would not be touching the drainage itself or things that had direct contact with the wound. No sharing of fluids either to be safe. Like drinks, food and such.
If the parents are ok with it, just keep a bandage on it, make sure you tell your daughter not to mess with it (sometimes it can be itchy) and let her go to the sleepover. If you're really worried have her wear long pajama pants instead of shorts as an extra cover. I had it a few years back, and no one contracted it from me at work or home. Good Luck =)
Do you have pets? Animals can be carriers of staph and keep reinfecting a person. A vet can check them.
I am an LPN and have worked in the hospital and in home care and have occasionally come across people with MRSA, I would tell you that as long as the pimple is not open and draining there is NO chance of spreading the MRSA. If you are worried about the pimple opening up then just buy some 4X4 gauze and cover it, tape it in place with medical tape- problem solved. MRSA is only contagious if one was to touch the open area or soiled materials and then come in contact with an open area on themself.
As long as the other parents are aware and understanding tell your daughter to enjoy her sleepover. I would bring as little attention to it as absolutely necessary to avoid her being outcasted at school. Remember schools have had issues with MRSA and people are spooked about because they are not well enough informed about it- the awful truth is that it is more prevalent out there than we want to admit and many times standard handwashing and commen sense will protect us all!
This is a tough one. My son had CA-Mrsa over a year ago as well. It was diagnosed over winter vacation and the Dr said he could go back to school as long as we kept a band-aid over the infection. I decided to keep him home a few extra days to make sure the infection was totally gone before he went back to school even though the Dr. said it was ok. The reason I did this is because I knew the fear that MRSA brought to my household and did not want to put another family through it. Once it cleared I did let him have a friend over but just for a few hours and after disinfecting the house. If they bring their own sleeping bags and pillows that should help. I think I would reschedule for a few weeks until I knew everyone in the household was clear. I would not want my son sleeping over even though I know all about it. Better safe then sorry.
How can you get a definitive negative or positive diagnosis. Do that - and get off the internet. Tally how many minutes you spend on the internet a day. Take that time to go walk with a friend, go to the library and sit in a pretty spot and read a book (Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger is great). If the parents are fine, let her go.
My family went through a weird boil stage way back in the days before MRSA. It started with my dad, moved to me, then to my boyfriend. We took no antibiotics, had the boils lanced (three in succession for each of us) and never had a reoccurance again. At the time the doctor said it was probably a virus that had to run its course. Boils have been around for centuries, I would not immediately go for the "zebra" expanation of MRSA, especiallly if it has not been confirmed. It might just be a normal old horse that will go away soon.
