MRSA from Touching Patient?

[JoeM1982]

I recently visited a patient in the hospital who has a MRSA skin infection in the leg area.  Sign entering the room (which I did not see) discussed the use of gown and gloves.  A nurse who saw me entering did not mention any necessary precautions.  When I entered, the patient offered to shake hands, which I accepted.  I then sat down and visited for a couple of hours.  I did not touch anything with my hands except my clothing.  I had a very small cut on my hand.  I washed my hands upon exiting and used hand sanitizer immediately after.  I am getting over a bout of influenza and am on an inhaler.  Am I at serious risk of catching MRSA?  If so, is there anything that I can do at this point to minimize my risk?  Thanks.

[mkh9]

Hi, How are you doing now? Is the cut in the hand still fine?

I doubt that you will get MRSA. This persons infection was likely localized to a particular part of his body. So if you didn't have contact with that you most likely will not get it. But assuming that he touched that part with his hand and then you got that staph into the cut. You then washed your hands and used sanitizer. So that should kill off whatever you came in contact with. But just in case you can apply Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment to your cut if it is still open for a few days. If it isn't infected by now you are most likely not going to get anything as I think you would have had something within about 48 hours of being in contact of the person. That is my opinion.

regards,
mkh9

[mkh9]

p.s. did the room have any respiratory precautions or only wound type precautions? If any respiratory you can get your nose cultured to see if you have become a carrier. If so you can talk to your doctor about either applying the topical antibiotic (if you are not allergic to it) Neosporin ointment with a Q tip gently in the nose for a week about twice a day or have them give you an appropriate oral antibiotic. But I wouldn't do it if you are negative because antibiotics can have bad side effects such as actually off setting the normal bowel bacteria and you can get other infections like Clostridium difficile  and other problems such as allergies to the antibiotic and other side effects. So, do it only if there was respiratory precautions and if your nasal culture is positive for Staph aureus (MRSA). Let me know if you have any questions.
mkh9

[JoeM1982]

Thank you very much for the response.  The cut on my hand did not become infected and healed perfectly and I have no become sick in any way since my exposure.  I do not believe there were any recommended respiratory precautions for the room and nurses were not using any kind of respiratory protection.  Do you believe that a nose culture is still required?

Thanks again.  

[mkh9]

No not if there were no respiratory precautions.
Regards,
mkh9

[mkh9]

Well, unless you rubbed your nose. If you didn't touch your face while in there and washed your hands when you got out your are fine.
mkh9

[mkh9]

I hesitate because it is unlikely.
mkh9

[JoeM1982]

I do not recall touching my face in any way when I was in the room.  

[mkh9]

Okay good. Then you would be fine.
mkh9