You need to talk to the hospital about this question and for advice on how to disinfect and what to disinfect.

staph infections are fairly common these days and can be acquired from any number of places.

MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is the most dangerous of these infections because of it's resistance to so very many antibiotics.

The first thing you need to do is determine the type of staph infection your husband has; if it is MRSA or not. Depending on which it is, the treatment will be different and the precautions surrounding continued transmission and hygiene will vary also.

The other thing you need to do is not panic even if it is MRSA. It seems that it's been caught early and can be treated,

As to where it came from, could be absolutely anywhere. Staph is all over our environment and it is next to impossible to avoid. The only way it could be tracked back to a source is if it is MRSA and there is an outbreak that is evident. Most of the cases of MRSA that have been identified have come from hospital environments, locker rooms, gyms, etc. So if I had to lay odds, I would say that is was acquired in while your husband was in the hospital. Check with them to see if they have any other cases and to notify them that your husband has the infection. They will want to track down where it came from and fix the source of infection.

Know that hospitals are very aware of the issues surrounding MRSA and have specific guidelines to deal with outbreaks and prevention of said outbreaks. Even with the best protocol, cases occur. So if you are looking to lay blame on someone it is unlikely that you will be able to do so.

Also, your home health agency is a more unlikely source than the hospital but anyone can carry the pathogen, even you.

Again, I would still bet on the hospital if it is MRSA. Since it is a pathogen that has been pretty specific to hospitals, it's not likely that it is in your house. So need to worry about how to get rid of it there.

Find out more information in regards to the type staph infection and whether it is systemic or localized and, if localized, where it is. I may be able to help you more with that information.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Kind Regards,

Jen

Here is a website form the Mayo Clinic on MRSA. It will tell you more.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735

Bes Wishes,

Jen

My son had a staph infection on his head.. He just now finished the last of the antibiotics. God knows where it came from .I just washed everything his head came in contact with and encouraged everyone to use good handwashing. Hes fine and we were not infected.. but i would sure say to check out the web sites provided here,, Good luck hope he gets to feeling better soon. Love D

When I was a nursing student one of my instructors stated: 'Staph infections come from STAFF'--never forgot it! And I think it is fairly accurate...

I BEG TO DIFFER ON TOOTS THREAD FIRST OF ALL ITS SPELLED STAPH INFECTION SECOND OF ALL IT IS NOT CONTRACTED ALL THE TIME BY STAFF WE HAVE A RESIDENT IN THE NURSING HOME I WORK AT WHO IS GIVING IT O STAFF SO ITS NOT ALWAYS STAFF GIVING IT.
TRISH

If I may.. I think toots is saying without good hygine like hand washing staff can pick up staph and spread it to other patients.. it is more often then not transfered in hospitals. Love D

Thanks Dolly--but the people who 'get' what I was saying aren't trying to pick a fight over it. At the risk of getting into a pissing contest (which is why I am so RARELY on DS anymore--so SICK of the BS...) I am well aware of the differences in the spellings of STAPH and STAFF. I also said I believe what my instructor said was 'fairly accurate'. PLEASE inform us, Trish, how your resident is giving staph to your staff?? Because if they are picking it up from their own poor hygiene, how in the hell are they NOT passing it around the facility to other residents?? Oh, and the all caps thing is charming! :)

Ok, so I spelled it wrong to begin with. So sorry. I did find out that he does have an infection of some sort or another in his leg, but that is not the concern. He did not pass the swab test in his nose, this does not mean that he has mrsa which is a staph infection, he is a carrier of it. The doctor said today at the hospital that almost 99 percent of the staff are carriers of it and I should not worry about it. He thinks that the rules of wearing gowns is stupid unless they come back positive for actually having the mrsa. Where he got it is not my concern, just knowing that he does not have mrsa is a relief. The infection in his leg well that is a true infection, but not mrsa. There we are all clear. I am not blaming anyone, because who knows where it came from and it is getting better, so that is all that matters now.

THE STAFF WHO ARE DEALING WITH THESE RESIDENTS ARE NOT USING GLOVES FOR EVERY WAY OF TOUCHING . I USE GLOVES IF I AM SO MUCH OF EVEN TAKING BLOOD PRESSURE, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT FOR THAT BUT I DO AND NOT EVERYONE OES SO THATS HOW THEY CAN PASS IT ON AND THEN ONE STAFF MEMBER TO ANOTHER .BUT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE RESIDENT BROUGHT IT IN.
TRISH

oh boy, ahem....anyway, my son had mrsa about a year ago in another state, I was not there. I was however, panicked.
He went to an ER and they had to open it up and get all theinfection out and he seemed okay. Now he is home for a visit and I believe he has it again. It's in the same place again, under his right arm. He is a carpet installer and lives in the South, he sweats alot and comes in contact with dirty carpeting he has to remove, that's all we can determine. He sure doesn't live in a dirty place, or a nursing home, has not been to a hospital, so I don't know where he got it. Although the Mayo Clinic article did say once you have it, you may get it again. Scares me. We are keeping a close watch on these new red bumps under his arm. Very scary.

Interesting: The resident brings it in but now the STAFF is passing around staph--I stand by my original statement, no matter which CNA begs to differ...

Love ya toots.. And PD. it took my son 14 days to get over it.. and it started the size of a pin hole.. good luck /Love d

Okay, son went to the hospital ER today in our city and they said he was allergic to his deodorant and they prescribed Bactrim. Now, I wasn't with him, he and his gf went. However, I would have asked, "why isn't it under the other arm also?????" They didn't do any tests, and the mayo article says it's a good idea not to give another antibiotic without testing first..he'll be home another 2 weeks and I'll have him back in the ER the minute it looks like it's getting worse. You would think that since he had it before, that would be a red flag. It looks awful and he says it's hurting under the skin and swelling. Grrrrr....I get so aggravated with the medical profession sometimes.

Me too. PD. I would like them to get it right the first time so it dosen't cost double.. keeping my fingers crossed. Love D