Both CA MRSA and HA MRSA are highly contagious and it's best to take
a serious (rather than casual) approach to prevention. Some doctors
act like either is not a big deal ... DON'T BELIEVE THEM!

Your son (and everybody else for that matter) CAN acquire MRSA
from "casual" contact with a person with MRSA or anything they may
have touched. For example if the MRSA infected son gave his mom a
hug chances are the MRSA bacteria are now on her clothes and skin.
Also if your son is in the car he was recently in (hours) chances are
the MRSA bacteria are still in the car (anywhere he has touched).

MRSA bacteria can live for DAYS on surfaces so I recommend that you
explain to your son that it's VERY IMPORTANT for him to wash his
hands FREQUENTLY -- with just plain soap and water. DO NOT use
antibacterial soap as that kind of soap kills BOTH the GOOD bugs and
BAD bugs, and you want to keep as many of the GOOD bugs on your body
as possible. You might also want to get him a small bottle of hand
sanitizer (like Purell) to carry around with him to use when he
doesn't have access to soap and water so he can clean his hands.

I would also suggest that you talk to your son's caregiver and
express to her the importance of HER washing her hands frequently too
especially since she's the one in direct contact with the MRSA
infected person. It is also important for her to disenfect her car
and home on a regular basis in an attempt to keep the surfaces where
her MRSA infected son may have had contact with free of MRSA
bacteria. Usually hot water and bleach does the job so there's no
need to go out and spend money on other products.

CA MRSA can be acquired ANYWHERE from ANYONE these days. 3 out of 10
HEALTHY people are carriers with no visible signs of having it and if
your son should acquire MRSA it wouldn't necessarily be from contact
with his caregiver. If your son has any kind of OPEN wounds you
should ensure they are covered. Dry hands is fine as long as there
are no open bleeding cracks and again make sure he washes his hands
frequently. Handwashing is the KEY!!

I hope this info helps you and your son.

Dee
Moderator
Stop_MRSA_Now

--- In Stop_MRSA_Now@yahoogroups.com, "kendeeconnor" <kkc1234@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi! I have a 22 year old autistic son. He does volunteer work with
a
> woman whos son was just diagnosed with Community MRSA. Her son is
> really bad. He has had several procedures to drain the wound and
is
> to have the bone scraped this week. I have called several doctors
> and even the CDC, trying to get some information as to precautions
to
> take so that my son doesn't get it. The woman that cares for my
son
> is the one that cleans and packs the wound, however, my son would
> have no direct contact with the person that actually has MRSA.
Could
> my son get it from casual contact with the caretaker, from being in
> the same vehicle, house, etc. of the person that actually has it?
>
> These are the questions that I have been asking the doctors in my
> area. So far, I have gotten totally conflicting responses.
Several
> doctors felt that my son should not even be in contact with this
boys
> mother, several other doctors felt there was absolutely nothing to
be
> concerned about and that he could even be with the person who has
it,
> as long as my son has no open wounds. Being winter, would this
> include dry hands?
>
> Sorry this is so long, but I would appreciate any information that
> anyone might have. Thanks!
>