Meningococcal Disease

If I'm going on scene where I know someone is sick (even cold/flu) I will wear an N95 mask. Can't hurt.

As for meningitis, I've been vaccinated. There's a big push at my university to get all incoming students vaccinated, as studies have shown that college-aged persons living in dorms are at an increased risk. It might not be very prevalent, but it isn't as rare as a lot of people think. It's general prognosis is also serious enough that I think you'd have to be stupid not to get vaccinated. It's quick, easy, finished with one visit, carried by most college clinics, and covered my most insurance carriers.
 
seanm028 said:
There's a big push at my university to get all incoming students vaccinated, as studies have shown that college-aged persons living in dorms are at an increased risk.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, it was required to go to my school, if not already vaccinated or exempt because of religious beliefs
 
I was vaccinated when I entered university. It stings pretty bad (not as bad as the T-DAP... OUCH!), but the peace of mind is well with worth it :)
 
I usually don't wear masks--TB being the one exception.

I have been vaccinated, the risks of vaccination for this one is minute but the possible detriments of catching it are too great not to get vaccinated. My university encourages vaccination and provides them free of charge. Everyone is required to either have proof of vaccination when entering or sign some informed consent paper to not getting it.

Don't rememebr it stinging that much at all though...
 
I had to vaccinated for my program as well. I wear the TB masks on the obvious calls or where the danger is emminent. I wear a surgical mask on a ton of sick patients just not around young shildren since it freightens them not to be able to see your mouth.
 
Had an 4 or 5 students affected by meningitis here earlier this year. Almost any health care job around here makes you get vaccinated as well as the schools. there are three different causes for meningitis fungal, bacterial, viral. Bacterial and Viral can both be vaccinated against.
 
mikeylikesit said:
I wear a surgical mask on a ton of sick patients just not around young shildren since it freightens them not to be able to see your mouth.
Click to expand...


I've worked in peds before and I wore a mask in almost EVERY room. Kidos get sick a lot eaisier than we do, and i don't want to be the one to get um more sick (or get sick from them). I just tried to make the mask into a game. You can do some creative stuff with sharpies :) .

Doesn't seem like a good idea to not use BSI just cause its a little scary.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mikeylikesit said:
...I wear a surgical mask on a ton of sick patients just not around young shildren since it freightens them not to be able to see your mouth.
Click to expand...

Mikey - Surgical or N95? One makes you look like you are living in western Asia and are worried about SARS... the other filters most of the "junk" out of the air you are breathing.
 
Jon said:
Mikey - Surgical or N95? One makes you look like you are living in western Asia and are worried about SARS... the other filters most of the "junk" out of the air you are breathing.
Click to expand...
N95, i will only wear them around children that i am very concerned about. Otherwise if i can i will leave it off to talk and work with them.
 
mikeylikesit said:
I had to vaccinated for my program as well. I wear the TB masks on the obvious calls or where the danger is emminent. I wear a surgical mask on a ton of sick patients just not around young shildren since it freightens them not to be able to see your mouth.
Click to expand...

Children would most likely be the ones to give you some nasty bug as well as being vulnerable themselves. There are many immunosuppressed kids for a variety of reasons.

When giving neb treatments, its mask time if the clinician is within 5 feet of the child. The same with some adults that haven't been worked up yet.

BTW, don't forget to have your varicella titers checked occasionally and keep your other vaccinations up to date. Even pertussis is still hanging out in some areas.

To keep from frightening the kids, I let them draw a goofy face on my mask while I'm setting up the neb. It gives them a good laugh as I "model" it. I'll also give them another mask to draw a funny face for their parents to model. Of course, this probably won't be with the costly N95 mask. If I wear an N95 around the kids, I'll use the one with purple "nose" button or I'll draw my own art work on the 3M masks for their amusement. Stickers work well also if I'm not feeling artistic.

As far as meningitis is concerned, I've taken more than my share of cipro. Of course, that is better than taking rifampin.

I also keep a small filter to use with the BVM to place between the bag and mask or ETT to prevent spray from the exhalation valve. This not only protects me but also any bystanders or HCWs that we come into contact with.

Usually, in the hospital, if we have a patient who is a R/O TB or meningitis, we may have Security clear the hallway and we'll use our elevator key to ensure no visitors inadvertently come into contact with the patient. The patient will also be wearing a mask.
 
^_^I think i am going to do like Vent and magic suggested and draw up some surgical masks from now on...i guess it is better than being unprotected...wonder why i never thought to do that in the first place.
 
Last time I got tested for TB, it came back positive and cost me half a days pay plus cost of xrays and doctor's visit. I told the RN checking it that it didn't look positive to me and more like an allergic reaction. Dr agreed with me. Xrays clear and when I described to the Dr how it got swollen, itchy, and red right after I got it, he said it sounded like an allergy to the PPD test. Which, i found out, is fairly common.
 
PPD and meningeococcal meningitis

Meningeococcal meningitis is no big deal if you don't mind dying, losing your mind, or your toes, fingers, "male privates", large and multiple plaques of your flesh and skin, did I mention dying, and passing it on. The more of your surrounding people are immune, the lower the chance you will be exposed, and vice versa. I am ignorant about studies of the frequency of nosocomial infection of EMS workers (which ruled out lifestyle exposure; quite a few early AID cases among health pesonnel turned out lifestyle, not nosocomial).

PPD...if the person reading it doesn't touch you, it hasn't been read, it's been pencil-whipped. Redness is not a sign of a "positive" if induration or ulceration are absent. However, once you exhibit systemic allergy, you need CXR instead of PPD anyway.

Working in correctional settings I am told I have a 50/50 chance of testing positive by retirement. Street EMS should be about the same, except you have better air flow.
 
I have a scar from my last PPD for TB. That was about 7 years ago. I am severely allergic to the skin test and need x-rays instead.
 
RESQ_5_1 said:
Last time I got tested for TB, it came back positive and cost me half a days pay plus cost of xrays and doctor's visit. I told the RN checking it that it didn't look positive to me and more like an allergic reaction. Dr agreed with me. Xrays clear and when I described to the Dr how it got swollen, itchy, and red right after I got it, he said it sounded like an allergy to the PPD test. Which, i found out, is fairly common.
Click to expand...
If it was for employment purposes... and they needed you to get a CXR... shouldn't they pay for it?
 
RESQ_5_1 said:
Last time I got tested for TB, it came back positive and cost me half a days pay plus cost of xrays and doctor's visit. I told the RN checking it that it didn't look positive to me and more like an allergic reaction. Dr agreed with me. Xrays clear and when I described to the Dr how it got swollen, itchy, and red right after I got it, he said it sounded like an allergy to the PPD test. Which, i found out, is fairly common.
Click to expand...

Just got my second TB test. The girl almost didn't read it because it was 2 minutes past the 24 hour time frame to read it in (they were closed Sunday so my only option: Monday after work). I said "if it was going to show a reaction, it's not like it would magically disappear at 3:23". She went back, asked her clinical manager and she came out and read it. I woulda flipped sh*t if I had to go back a third time to do that!

Oh the joys of the 'pre-employment routine'!
 
Umm... we were given a 48-72 hour window.

Most folks got them read at 48 +/-.
 
My last TB skin test was 3 days too earlily to qualify for the 6 months prior to emt class start date... luckly my girlfriends mom is a new nurse and needed to practice! Yay for free inoculations!
 
Jon said:
Umm... we were given a 48-72 hour window.

Most folks got them read at 48 +/-.
Click to expand...

Right, and I was referring to the 24 hour period between them :D. I had it done on a Friday so I could only get it read that Monday after work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top