MRSA found in Fire Stations

[NomadicMedic]

I was a medic student at one of the fire stations where this study took place.

...the surprise was that the bacteria had found its way from the garage to the living quarters. Tests revealed the station kitchen tables were as bad as any of the aid cars where the patients ride. But things got even more interesting when nose swabs revealed MRSA levels in firefighters ten times higher than the general public average.

Source: http://www.king5.com/news/environment/Local-Firefigher-MRSA-Study-108808709.html

 

[Veneficus]

I was a medic student at one of the fire stations where this study took place.




Source: http://www.king5.com/news/environment/Local-Firefigher-MRSA-Study-108808709.html

Since 1 in 5 people are a carrier for MRSA, that is 20% of the population. 10%higher would make it 30%.

Maybe the headline is attention grabbing, bt it hardly seems surprising or worthy of note considering that non ICU areas of medicine, particularly dialysis labs and outpatient clinics always test positive for a host of rather potent microorganisms in a large percentage.

I would only worry abot it if the dept. fared worse than the dialysis and Outpatient clinics.

I would also like to see how this compares to the carrier level in hospital and other healthcare workers.

 

[JJR512]

Since 1 in 5 people are a carrier for MRSA, that is 20% of the population. 10%higher would make it 30%.

I didn't see any mention in the article of anything being 10% higher than anything else.

The only mention of "ten" at all was here:

But things got even more interesting when nose swabs revealed MRSA levels in firefighters ten times higher than the general public average.

Ten times higher, not ten percent higher.

My interpretation of that statement is that it isn't indicating that the incident of occurrence of colonization was higher; rather, of those colonized, the amount present was ten times higher.

 

[Veneficus]

I didn't see any mention in the article of anything being 10% higher than anything else.

The only mention of "ten" at all was here:

Ten times higher, not ten percent higher..

my fault, i need to stop multitasking now.

My interpretation of that statement is that it isn't indicating that the incident of occurrence of colonization was higher; rather, of those colonized, the amount present was ten times higher.

That makes it even less significant.

 

[JJR512]

Yes, I didn't really see the point in mentioning that fact alone. A difference in rate of occurrence of colonization or infection would have been more useful.

 

[Sasha]

I was a medic student at one of the fire stations where this study took place.




Source: http://www.king5.com/news/environment/Local-Firefigher-MRSA-Study-108808709.html

I wouldn't worry... My dog probably has MRSA and all kind of nasties on her from all the MRSA, CDT, VRE and psuedomonas patients I've had recently. They're really not a big deal unless you're immunocompromised.

 

[lightsandsirens5]

I wouldn't worry... My dog probably has MRSA and all kind of nasties on her from all the MRSA, CDT, VRE and psuedomonas patients I've had recently. They're really not a big deal unless you're immunocompromised.

Woohoohoo! Look at those big words!

And I have heard that the MRSA causing goobies are everywhere. It only seems natural that there are increased levels of them in a place like a fire station, which in effect is a large locker room (although yes, it is a lot cleaner) with sweaty people running around between the bay and the shower. The gym and the shower, the gym and the bay, etc. Add to that the fact that there is a rolling emergency healthcare vehicle stored inside and probably at least one trashcan for garbage for said vehicle, I don't find it surprising that the study found higher levels. I'm not too worried about my station. I'm a pretty healthy guy and I don't eat in the ambulance. I'd also bet that our station is cleaner then most as some of my crew mates are clean freaks. LOL!