I just found out I was pregnant and I work in a nursing home. I am very scared now because I have been exposed to several different residents with both VRE and MRSA. I am very confused on if I should continue to work in this environment. I have been having issues with higher up about who I can work with and who I can't work with and it all is confusing to me. I don't want to be a pain in the butt, but when I wasn't pregnant there was others that were and they didn't have to work with certain one and now that I am and staffing is very short it seems to be ok as long as I take proper precautions. I find that to be a bunch of bull!!!! I enjoy my job and the residents but I am really scared for my unborn child and my other 2 children I have at home. I want to quit but I am afraid that it will hinder me in getting a job somewhere else. I just graduated from LPN school and I verbally told them that I would work there but I am having doubts now. What should I do? I am so confused.
Hey,
I understand why you are scared. You're probably wondering: can a MRSA staph infection cause miscarriage? And: Can a MRSA staph infection cause birth defects? On both counts, the answer is actually no, it can't. It does leave you open to other infections that can be more dangerous to your baby though, and you would also need to take pretty heavy antibiotics, which I am sure you would rather avoid.
The best way to prevent a MRSA staph infection is to practice meticulous hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for a long time after any kind of contact with bodily fluids and even after touching money.
Hope that helps.