Can staph be transmitted to people?

[nurseamc]

You can say that again! We lost 3 patients last year (all chicken/bird owners) to fungal infections in the lungs. One spent 2 weeks on the oscillator and still didn't make it. It's good to know that some hardware stores are carrying the masks now. It's good info to pass along to patients as well as others that have to clean out chicken pens.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I just had a rooster I put down because he developed what I believe was staph in his feet. Not one, both feet. I don't know what could have caused him to have this come on, but it did and it got bad fast.
I am trying to find info on staph to know what precautions I need to take to reduce problems that might come from this episode in my flock.
I am NOT a germaphobe. I understand there are germs EVERYWHERE. HOWEVER, I think it is pretty high and mighty when so many of you took that stand that the OP is some paranoid germaphobe for asking a very reasonable and responsible question about a very dangerous thing. How much bad news has been spread about staph/MRSA over the last few years. It is nothing short of SMART to question and be preventive about such things. So, to those of you who think it is so silly and paranoid to worry about germs, stop washing your hands. Sounds stupid, doesn't it? Well, so does accusing someone of being paranoid just because they want to educate themselves, folks. Part of the reason this site is so popular is because people can come here to find answers, after all.

 

[RJo1]

A belated "right on" to you, Minniechickmama.

Having a history of nasal/sinus surgeries myself, I wore a half-face particulate cartridge respirator to do a winter cleanout a few weeks ago. What a joke. Does anybody here remember "The Slime" that was sold from gumball machines in the 80's? Yeah, my head was packed with a similar substance. I had a faux planters wart on my left palm, a splinter hemorrhage under my left middle fingernail, a boil on my left forearm, a boil on my right forearm, a boil inside my right thigh, and one wickedly crusty razor burn. Three days later, severe lower back pain landed me in the ER. I'm still recovering from a herniated disc. I find this odd, as I did no heavy labor for those three preceding days. Anyway, the ER doc put me on the antibiotics, anti-inflamatories, and pain relievers I needed.

As far as my overall health, I'm a mid 30's dude that can do firewood like nobody's business. I don't have cancer or any blood diseases. This post is dedicated to all the toughgals and toughguys too cool to get sick.Personally, I'll be looking for N95 cartridges... whatever the heck they are.

 

[Suzie]

So....... I have health problems... I have a compromised immune system... Rheumatoid Arthritis and I have TNF blockers plus other drugs....

I have over thirty chickens and I love them all.... they enhance my live and I could not consider being without them....!

I have an infection in my left foot... probably a Staph Infection... I am going into Hospital on Tuesday next for treatment or removal of bones.... I do not care.. what will be will be.

What I am trying to say is that my chickens are worth any problems that may face me....they give me a reason to survive....live with whatever life faces you... you will be a better and stronger person for your resolve!
;

 

[RJo1]

I'm sorry to hear that, Suzie. I can only imagine the severity of your situation. The bone removed from my skull is merely internal.

I must admit that I probably would not be willing to wait until Tuesday. And although I have some pets that might be considered "PETA class," I also must confess that my chickens are livestock, albeit lavishly living livestock.

A few more things I failed to mention earlier... I never had this problem tending hogs, goats, or lambs. In fact, my 13 chickens roost in my old elevated hog house. In one corner, they roost above a 3'x4' manure box that I regularly dust with wood ash. Lately, I'm using brown grass and/or spruce needles over a thin ash dusting for bedding/nest boxes. I mulch their run too--it's like walking on a fluffy mattress. And during winter, I'm in there wearing knee high boots, 2 or 3 layers, gloves, a respirator, and a hat. The house is sided with rough sawn cherry, so ventilation is more than ample. I guess I was surprised that all this wasn't enough.

I did check out the N95 cartridges. Organic vapor--these are the same things I wore when I was vacuuming underground fuel tanks. (Yes, I was supposed to have a scout pack but the boss was cheap, the manholes were narrow, and the 8" vacuum induced plenty of fresh air.)

 

[Suzie]

Unfortunately .... Europe has to wait until a Hospital gives the go ahead for treatment..... mine is considered to be urgent... I am only waiting for one week until I have some remedial treatment.... others wait for in excess of six months ... especially the U.K.

I do not know the situation in the USA but ... in Europe we have no voice.... if it was an accident then treatment and Hospitalisation is immediate, otherwise you wait.....

Only another two days for me.... I was given antibiotics... to no avail... the infection is still here and the pain is something else... I do not normally complain I live with a degree of pain every day of my life but this is exceptional.. morphine is not the solution.

 

[ellend]

N95 cartridges...
N95's are masks that are rated for viruses, which most masks will not block.

 

[RJo1]

@ ellend: Ah ha. Thanks for clarifying. My full face "fuel proof" mask was an R95. A prefilter makes the R95 oil resistant. I wish I still had this mask to use with some N95 cartridges. I understand that staph is responsible for pink eye as well.

@ Suzie: Best wishes for you tomorrow. In the States, hospital emergency rooms are not allowed to turn any patients away. Patients are admitted in order of condtiion severity. Ability/method of payment are addressed at the end of the patient's visit to prevent discrimination. An ER visit is generally quite costly, but there are approximately 44 million Americans without medical insurance. Uninsured persons are less likely to receive preventative care--arguably making them likely to have an emergency. It's currently up to each of the 50 States to decide what, if anything, to do about this. However, sweeping changes are on the way.

Starting January 1st, there will be no minimum age limit and no dependent(s) requirement for Medicaid (the free-to-patient plan for low income Americans). On a sliding scale, Americans earning $80k or less will receive a government check for the purpose of buying private medical insurance. It's estimated that there are 31 million Americans already qualified for Medicaid but not enrolled. It's expected that these checks, coupled with a new conditional tax penalty rule, will drive these people (along with virtually everyone else) to obtaining some type of medical coverage. It is a sweeping change, and as such, is extremely controversial.

 

[Suzie]

RJo1...


Thanks for your wishes... maybe Europe has a lot to learn from the USA....!

My belief is that if somebody is in pain then immediate action should be taken by the relevant Health Authorities... in my dreams eh?

I'll be back soon!!!!

 

[RJo1]

Hear hear, Suzie!

I'm still researching and apparently, the only real protection is a full face respirator: http://www.naturalnews.com/026160_preparedness_flu_swine.html. This makes sense, considering any respirator or gas mask must be seal tested by covering the cartridges and inhaling. If your eyes get sucked in, you did it right. This was also why I was not allowed to grow a beard. As usual, the solution is a bit more expensive than I anticipated.