My Niece Has Mrsa Need Some Info Please!!!

Does your niece have MRSA as a result of a wound or is she just a carrier of MRSA? My mother-in-law had it when she was in the nursing home and she had a wound on her foot. She was treated and is now OK. I must have picked up the MRSA from spending time with her because when I had my twins in Jan 2007, I tested positive as a carrier. (The hospital I was at checks everyone as a routine.) They stuck a swab up my nose and it came back as MRSA. I was terrified, horrified, etc. I thought I was a leper (sp?) and had ruined my kids lives. For 5 days, my newborn twins and I had to put an antibiotic up our noses to treat it. We did the normal hygiene you do with newborns around -- disinfected, washed hands, etc. Eventually I forgot about it (took a LONG time). When I had my last baby in May 2008, I tested negative for MRSA. They say that 30%-40% of the general population walks around with it and there's nothing to worry about as long as it's not in a wound or in your blood stream. I know it sounds very scary, but I wouldn't get your daughter scared about playing with your niece. Talk to your pediatrician and they should be able to give you some information. GOOD LUCK!!

If your niece has MRSA, if she has been recently diagnosed she is going to need to rest and relax for a few days. Depending on where the wound is, she may have to keep a leg or arm elevated for a day or so. I'm guessing she is on antibiotics and I would wait and make sure that she is responding well to the antibiotics before making play dates. They probably wrote on her skin with a pen and circled the sore, so that they could tell...day to day...if it was improving. You would know that there is improvement because, the sore does not exceed the circled area or the red has lessened. Sometimes people call MRSA "celluitis"...I would be curious if she was really tested for MRSA. Not all celluitis is MRSA but sometimes DR's label it that without doing the test. I had celluitis and the hospital wasn't even going to test me for MRSA ....consequently I tested negative -even though they still called it MRSA. With celluitis, I still would make sure your niece is responding to the antiobiotic but wouldn't be as concerned about catching it - your sister-in-law still needs to keep her child resting for a short while. And she will probably have the wound wrapped. Good luck.

My husband has MRSA and we have an infant son and I do in home daycare. I asked several doctors if it was safe for the children to be here and every doctor we consulted told us yes. As long as my husband doesn't have an open wound uncovered. While he does he has to use a bandage and make sure to wear clothing over the area. Every doctor assured me tha tas long as all open wounds were covered there could be no transfer of the infection. But also so you know, it stays in your nieces body forever if its in her blood stream and it just depends on when it will act up and cause a sore. But not all MRSA is hte kind you leep forever. They should ask her doctor what hers is. As long as you watch the kids closely when they play and are sure there are no open wounds, they will be just fine.

You can also find information at http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/

Unfortunately, A LOT of people have it! My husband being one of them. As long as the "infected" area is clean (covered up would be even better) - and WASHING YOUR HANDS (and toys) would be great too! I will assume that your niece has been put on antibiotics for it. That being said, yes she can get it from her, BUT she could also get it from someone at school or someone that she plays with that you don't know about. Since you know that your niece already has it, you can take EXTRA precautions and let them play together! Hope this helps!

This seems to be a good place to start for some information. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=ri...

Being that your duaghter is only 3 I think your right to be concerned. I'm not sure you need isolate her entirely from your niece. Maybe just don't do things such as have lunch together, bath's, sleepover's etc. Maybe meet at a park so they can play without necessarily being in a confined space together. That being said only AFTER the active infection is gone. From what I know of MRSA, which is admittedly very little, I think most or even all of us carry this and it's usually harmless unless there is an open sore and active infection. Finally if they do play together make sure good handwashing is practiced (sing the ABC song all the way to the end while vigorously washing her hands). Your in a tough spot but I think with some education, preventative practices and common sense your niece and daughter can still see eachother. I would also maybe call your pediatrican and discuss it with him/her.

Good luck!

MRSA is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We have S. Aureus living on our skin naturally, and it's always looking for a way in through a break in the skin. MRSA lives the longest in the human nose, so it is VERY important wash one's hands after sneezing or blowing one's nose, especially with the cold and flu season coming.

Is your nice still sick? If she is, they shouldn't play together until she gets a clean bill of health. If she has recovered, any residual bacteria can be combated by handwashing and cleaning surfaces thoroughly with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol. In addition, any cuts and scrapes should be cleaned with soap and water as soon as they are discovered--the most important thing, though, is to clean them under running water for about 60 seconds to wash out any bacteria that might be trying to sneak in, pat it dry, then cover it with a clean bandage.

As long as your daughter doesn't have any problems with her immune system and your niece no longer has an active infection, there's no reason why they can't play together.

I hope this helps and reassures you that your daughter and your niece can play together!

MRSA is and can be a very serious thing. "supposedly" we all have it,just whether or not it rears it's ugly head and lets loose. I believe there is "contagious" stages ( depending of course wherever it's located ) and non-contagious. I would definitely check with your family doctor. the office should have info packets or brochures to help educate you. If nothing else,try the local health dept. MRSA is making a big debut of being more seriuos than we think. I would get all the facts and answers before I let the girls get together again,however I don't think it's entirely necessary to keep them separated for life!!! Good luck in your quest............J.