communicable diseases

Just do what the CDC did to the Reston Ebola building.

Put in an electric skillet full of formaldehyde, lead out the extension cord, seal the vehicle with duct tape, then plug it in with the skillet on "HI". Instant Chemiclave.:o
 
Wow lots of info while i was gone.

also, i noticed i totally misspelled my account name, sweet..

Here are some other thoughts I had. When we need to landline dispatch, we whip out our cell phones. When we need a lift assist, we whip out our cell phones. Later, after the shift, we call and text our friends (sometimes texting during, since most of the EMTs and medics I run into are on the phone at some point. I've taken to using lysol on my iphone and my stethoscope (since i bring my own) and my watch when I get home from work. I leave my boots on the porch, and my uniform in another closet not in my bedroom. The only thing I'm not too worried about is my undershirt, which I'll wash with my other clothes fine.

Am I crazy?..

Also, I'm finding it hard interact or use things that I had on my shift with me. Not like I can disinfect my wallet. I'm brand new to the health care field, as I said, I wanted to shift my life towards something more meaningful, but as you can maybe tell, I'm a little OCD about my health, or maybe just when risky possibilities are right in my face everyday. I just read an article that said someone got MRSA on/in their mouth, and a spread of lesions, i lick and bite my lips out of habit.. gahhh
 
recklessdetrimenalist said:
Wow lots of info while i was gone.

also, i noticed i totally misspelled my account name, sweet..

Here are some other thoughts I had. When we need to landline dispatch, we whip out our cell phones. When we need a lift assist, we whip out our cell phones. Later, after the shift, we call and text our friends (sometimes texting during, since most of the EMTs and medics I run into are on the phone at some point. I've taken to using lysol on my iphone and my stethoscope (since i bring my own) and my watch when I get home from work. I leave my boots on the porch, and my uniform in another closet not in my bedroom. The only thing I'm not too worried about is my undershirt, which I'll wash with my other clothes fine.

Am I crazy?..

Also, I'm finding it hard interact or use things that I had on my shift with me. Not like I can disinfect my wallet. I'm brand new to the health care field, as I said, I wanted to shift my life towards something more meaningful, but as you can maybe tell, I'm a little OCD about my health, or maybe just when risky possibilities are right in my face everyday. I just read an article that said someone got MRSA on/in their mouth, and a spread of lesions, i lick and bite my lips out of habit.. gahhh
Click to expand...

I don't think there's anything wrong with cleaning your gear after a shift. I wiped down my phone, shears, badge, stethoscope, and whatever else I used after the end of the day. I laminated my EMT and CPR card, and put them in a ziploc bag with my driver's license and some cash so I don't have to take my wallet with me.

As far as MRSA is concerned...I don't thinbk you have much to worry about assuming you follow proper PPE / handwashing / disinfection techniques. You likely already carry it anyway, so don't stress out. Others more knowledgeable on the topic will probably weigh in, but from my understanding the strains of MRSA that thrive in hospitals and SNF faciltities(hospital associated MRSA) are relatively weak, and are less of a danger to healthy people than the strains typically found outside, on healthier folks and in places like schools, gyms, etc. (community associated MRSA). Again...wash your hands, cover your cuts and scrapes after cleaning them well, wear gloves, and try not to worry.
 
I need to start doing a phone wipe down.

We have a uniform service that will clean our uniforms so I throw them in the pick up receptacle. Most people leave their boots on top of the lockers, I'm paranoid so mine just go in box in my trunk along with the backpack I use for work.

I cringe at the fact that some people drive home wearing their uniforms.
 
Steam Engine said:
Totally agree with you...cross contamination to immunocompromised patients is one of the two main reasons I glove up / wear other appropriate PPE as necessary. The first is to prevent direct exposure to myself, even though as you stated our ambulances, gear, and bases are likely already plenty filthy. I'm curious though, how would you handle Tigger's hypothetical case of a severely contagious pt. refusing to keep the mask on upon arrival at the hospital (I'm thinking active TB, nasty MRSA-induced pneumonia, or something else along those lines.) Since I *legally* can't force a patient to wear a mask, the best I can come up with is hope and plead, and if that doesn't work get hospital staff involved. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Well... that patient with active TB who refuses to wear their mask could be perceived as a threat to themselves or others... I'm generally the paranoid type, so wear an n95 as well as asking my patient to... I know that i'm fit tested for the brand we use, but don't know if the patient is... Walking around myself or with a patient wearing a mask is generally scary enough when entering an ED, we generally get priority at triage and getting a room.
 
A couple of thoughts.

If any of you go to the gym, they're a major source of MRSA infection

I recently heard about an internal study that Baylor (I think) here in Dallas did, they found MRSA throughout boxes of non-sterile gloves that had been in use for any time, so using non-sterile gloves for the patients protection is bull scat.

I don't routinely handle my wallet without practicing good hand hygiene, so I'm not particularly worried there.

Does your doctor put on gloves for a routine physical outside of hernia/prostate/pelvic exams?

If I see you wearing gloves in the cab of the ambulance your subject to a tongue lashing as I'm going to assume you've contacted bodily fluids.

Hand hygiene people, that's what will save you. Not being OCD paranoid about uniforms that likely have little more MRSA than your everyday clothes.
 
recklessdetrimenalist said:
Hi everyone,

Glad I found emtlife.com, seems like a great community and place to share/find info on the ever surprising occupation of being an EMT.

I completed my class at Boston University and just got a job through a great company south of the city.

I had some worries about communicable diseases like VRE, Cdiff and MRSA. I realize that VRE is transferred by blood but cdiff and MRSA can live on surfaces and especially things like your stethoscope and bpcuff. The EMTs preceptors I'm going through my training shifts with explained that any traces of things like MRSA or forms of hepatitis on inanimate objects found throughout the truck are so small they're not a worry. Though sometimes things like bed rails, stretchers etc. seem to be primary methods of transmission?

One of our patients the other day had MRSA, and of course, the gloves go on. However my fore arm at one point brushed against the patients upon reaching over to buckle them in, I'll learn to be more careful in my methods, but should I be worried? Neither the patient nor I had open wounds/sores but a lot of research states even shaking hands can transfer such things.

I wanted to hear some of your opinions on how you go about your day, personally I'm a little nervous to eat my lunch, even using my chapstick on the truck knowing I might be coming in contact with some serious stuff.
Click to expand...

I can definitely relate to your situation.When riding,I avoid touching and contaminating myself in any way.BSI or PPE, whatever you want to call it, is always extremely important.Though I wash my hands frequents, carry antiseptic wipes on me at all times and carry a 16oz protective spray that can be sprayed in the eyes,mouth,cuts etc.Its a strong microbial disinfectant.So Knowing that I have this with me makes me feel a little better.
 
Steam Engine said:
As far as MRSA is concerned...I don't thinbk you have much to worry about assuming you follow proper PPE / handwashing / disinfection techniques. You likely already carry it anyway, so don't stress out.
Click to expand...

I was aware that most healthcare providers carry MRSA. As far as health care providers go, is there anyone who cares to elaborate on colonized MRSA vs infectious MRSA? Sputum vs wound MRSA as it pertains to us?
 
Cite study about the majority being MRSA carriers?

Like the one about "All hospitals are teeming with C. difficele on every surface" which was going viral (haha) last year?

"Colonized" means an organism is growing persistently in a subject. It can be as infectious, although not necessary as virulent, as strains going the rounds. However, as seen in the classic case of "Typhoid Mary", it can too be quite virulent; furthermore, if you are shedding exotoxin, a microscopic amount will lay someone low with GI disturbance , malaise, etc without an infection.

"Sputum MRSA"...not really familiar with that. I would assume that if it exists (maybe nasal MRSA would count if you "snork" instead of blowing your nose) it is as bad as wound staph, although not as potentially large a quantity and in a more immediately viscous substrate. Substrate is everything in infection.

Take a microbiology class, it's instructive and interesting.
 
While suffering from MRSA disease keeping hands clean by washing them thoroughly with soap and water is important. But the the most important preventive measure to be taken is to keep cuts and scrapes clean and always covering them with a bandage until they heal. The sufferer should always avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors with others, otherwise the disease may spread to them also.
 
I only fear Hep C and HIV, my Moto. If it is Wet and not yours, do not touch it without gloves.
 
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