Possible MRSA Exposure, What Do I Do?

[elliebirdyx]

Hi all,

I have a question concerning a bacteria that I was exposed to at my job, and how to proceed with handling my bird.

I work in the skin-care industry, and a client admitted to having a history of MRSA after I already had skin-to-skin contact with her and "hopefully" being fully treated for it with no active symptoms for 3 years (she claims). I applied products over the nose area that had 3 small, scabbed spots that she claimed she "picked" but weren't weeping/open.

I'd like to know if I should be avoiding skin contact with him for the 10 day period that symptoms could arise? I typically spend a lot of time where he's perched on or hanging out with me, so I fear him contracting something from me. I also am concerned that I may end up being "colonized" with no symptoms, and carry the bacteria that can now infect him at any time... Any insight here is appreciated.

 

[GaleriaGila]

That... is... SCARY!
I'm so sorry.
My best thought would be to ask your own physician or avian vet, or maybe even the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html).
Please let us hear what you learn.
Good for you for being such a conscientious owner.

 

[elliebirdyx]

That... is... SCARY!
I'm so sorry.
My best thought would be to ask your own physician or avian vet, or maybe even the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html).
Please let us hear what you learn.
Good for you for being such a conscientious owner.

Thank you so much for the link, and info! I appreciate the compliment, it means so much!

 

[elliebirdyx]

**update**

Our avian vet has advised for me to not kiss Yoshi for 10-12 days, which is the incubation period for MRSA. Additionally, they've advised that I handle any food/water bowls while wearing gloves and a mask just as precaution. I will be doing the same when handling him as well. Hand washing is pertinent, and just playing it super safe are their best recommendations.

The vet seems more worried that the MRSA would cause respiratory issues in Yoshi if contracted, and less likely to cause skin issues. This makes sense seeing that MRSA can cause both respiratory AND skin issues in humans (skin issues being more common).

Hopefully this is able to help anyone out there who may run into the same issue.

 

[rheashard2]

Some surveys claim as many as 30% of general public are MRSA positive and asymptotic. Take care with your decisions. Some health care providers will say no pets. Others will say don't worry. Only a few will say use safe techniques, good handwashing, wear a mask and be careful with physical contacts to family, friends, pets. I worked critical care for several decades. I can count on one hand, how many days in a month that there wasn't at least one MRSA patient in the unit. At home I was extremely careful with handwashing as in a minimum of 3 minutes, before touching, handling my grey (used soap that didn't stay on skin) wearing mask, extra careful with cleaning. I'd even get tested with colds, allergies and more. I tried gloves when cage cleaning but my CAG didn't like them. Neither me or my grey came down with it. So be extra careful MRSA is an opportunistic bug. It can travel both ways between per and human.

 

[JjEjFjF]

I dont know about mrsa but im pretty sure they cant catch covid. I had covid and didnt know it. One of my birds snuggles under my chin. He wasnt affected.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Some surveys claim as many as 30% of general public are MRSA positive and asymptotic. Take care with your decisions. Some health care providers will say no pets. Others will say don't worry. Only a few will say use safe techniques, good handwashing, wear a mask and be careful with physical contacts to family, friends, pets. I worked critical care for several decades. I can count on one hand, how many days in a month that there wasn't at least one MRSA patient in the unit. At home I was extremely careful with handwashing as in a minimum of 3 minutes, before touching, handling my grey (used soap that didn't stay on skin) wearing mask, extra careful with cleaning. I'd even get tested with colds, allergies and more. I tried gloves when cage cleaning but my CAG didn't like them. Neither me or my grey came down with it. So be extra careful MRSA is an opportunistic bug. It can travel both ways between per and human.

Thank you for providing us with this excellent information. Most people don't understand MRSA and just how prevalent the organism is. Most people who are exposed to MRSA don't even know it. In reality MRSA is not a threat to healthy people.
Our skin, mouth and nasal cavities are colonized by normal flora including Staph aureus and MRSA is simply Staph aureus that is resistant to methacillin and other antibiotics in the same class. MRSA is sensitive to several other antibiotics but, despite that, MRSA infections are more difficult to treat than regular Staph aureus infections.

Studies have detected MRSA in screening cultures of poultry, so birds can carry MRSA.

The Merck Veternary Manual (professional edition) says that birds can get Staph aureus infections including MRSA infections, and Staph can be isolated in cultures from Bumblefoot lesions, which may or may not mean it's the causative organism because mixed flora can grow out of skin lesions.

Knowing that MRSA is Staph aureus, a very common mostly harmless organism, that an estimated 3% of all people carry MRSA in their nose, mouth, and skin and that people have a natural tendency to spread their flora around to others and leave it on community surfaces, as long as you are healthy with a normal immune system (and so are your birds) and aren't a caregiver for compromised people, I wouldn't worry too much about your birds or yourself carrying or getting colonized by MRSA. But I have a natural tendency to not worry about these things once I understand the risks. Others may have a lower threshold for worry and I totally respect that.