We have a relative in our family who has been diagnosed as a “carrier” of MRSA. Some of the relatives totally shy away from her because of it and some of them have the attitude, “all it gets you is a private room in the hospital.” Who is right?
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is carried on the skin or nasal lining of up to 30 percent of healthy people. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a specific strain of Staph that does not respond to methicillin (an antibiotic). Being a “carrier,” also known as being colonized, with MRSA means that a person is carrying the bacterium on their skin or in their nose but has no signs or symptoms of illness. It is quite common to be a MRSA carrier; up to 15 percent of healthcare workers are carriers. MRSA can be spread by contact touching someone’s skin that has MRSA or a surface that has MRSA on it, like a countertop, phone, etc. A person can develop an infection if the MRSA on the skin enters an open area on the skin, like a cut or scrape. The good news is that the simple act of appropriate handwashing prevents the spread of MRSA. You can also use hand sanitizer if you can’t wash your hands. If you have a cut or wound, you should have it appropriately bandaged to prevent contamination. Sometimes, people that are positive for MRSA on screening (usually by a nasal swab) will be placed in contact precautions in the hospital. Contact precautions typically require that hospital staff wear gowns and gloves when entering a room and interacting with the carrier patient. However, some hospitals have discontinued this policy as those measures have not proven any more effective than appropriate handwashing at preventing the spread of MRSA. If a person does develop an MRSA infection, it can be treated with antibiotics by your doctor.
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How often should I reapply sunscreen when I’m outside? If I’m walking for an hour, is once enough? And do I need to do my face if I’m wearing a hat?
Sunscreen should be at least SPF 30 or greater and protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. Those with fairer skin should use a higher SPF, but SPF greater than 50 provides a negligible amount of extra protection, so even though the higher SPF products cost more they are not proven any more effective at preventing sunburns than SPF 50. Sunscreen should be put on all exposed skin, ideally 15-30 minutes before exposure, and should be reapplied at least every two hours. You should also reapply after sweating, swimming, drying off with a towel or rubbing the skin. There are some sunscreens designed to be water/sweat proof; typically those products still recommend reapplication every 40-80 minutes. The label will specify the time interval for reapplication. All exposed skin should have sunscreen applied. Hats do provide some protection, but it is still recommended to use sunscreen on your face. The brim of your hat will help prevent burns, but will not cover your whole face. People also often forget about their ears, which are also not protected by most types of hats.
Do you need to see a doctor if you think an OTC medicine will do? Or could you just be delaying your recovery?
There are many common things that OTC medications can help with, such as common cold symptoms. If there is an OTC medication that appears it may improve your symptoms, it is generally all right to try it. But there are countless possible situations that could arise, making an OTC medication the wrong choice. So, use your best judgment based on the symptoms you are having at that time; but if there is any doubt about if an OTC medication is appropriate for you, then you should check with your primary care physician before taking it.
Ads always say, “Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you’re taking.” Wouldn’t the doctor already know?
In most circumstances, your doctor would know about the prescription medications that you are taking. But it is important that you tell your doctor about any other medicines you’re taking that you may have gotten from other providers (like a specialist), over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking. It is also important to tell your doctor whether you are actually taking all the medications that you have been prescribed.
How should you treat someone who has gotten burned by sparklers?
Minor burns can usually be treated at home without incident. The initial treatment should include removing clothes from the burned area, cooling/cleansing the area with room temperature or cool tap water. The water will help limit tissue injury and will help with pain. Keep running the water until the pain decreases, but you should not do that for more than five minutes. You can also use wet gauze or towels instead of running water; these can be kept on for up to 30 minutes. For small burns, NSAIDs (like ibuprofen and naproxen) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) is sufficient for pain. Superficial burns do not need any dressings on them. If the burn covers a large area of skin, involves the face, hands, feet or genitals, involves a major joint, or goes through multiple layers of skin, then it needs to be addressed by a physician right away.
