Public shower precautions

[TxGypsy]

I hope that everyone is taking precautions when using public showers.&nbsp; When we think about the lack of cleanliness in showers, we often think about getting a fungus or something that can be taken care of by something that can be bought over the counter.&nbsp; No big deal right?&nbsp; Wrong.<br><br>A friend of mine contracted Mercers through a public shower.&nbsp; He had a blister on his foot from hiking...it doesn't take much of an opening.&nbsp; He is currently in rehab after having his second leg amputated from this disease.&nbsp; There was a carrier in the community that regularly used these showers.&nbsp; That carrier is dead along with several others.&nbsp; <br><br>Especially since I personally know someone this happened to.....I'm more than a bit apprehensive about using public showers, but my camper van's 'shower' is miniscule and it is more comfortable to use full sized facilities.&nbsp; Unfortunately I am very allergic to bleach.&nbsp; If I wasn't, I'd just take a spray bottle of bleach and hose the shower down before I used it.&nbsp; I am currently wearing flip flops in the shower and spraying some lysol on them after they are dry.&nbsp; Not great, but I figure better than nothing.&nbsp; Anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[Guest]

<div>Practice wound care.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>eg &nbsp;"step 4" at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA00042" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 13px;">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA0004</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">2</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"Cover the wound. Bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out."</div><div><br>Had to look up Mercers. Wasn't familiar with the term. It enforces that if you have open wounds - you do want to keep the bacteria out of them.&nbsp;<br><br><a style="font-size: 13px;" href="http://voices.yahoo.com/what-causes-mercer-disease-5777878.html?cat=5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://voices.yahoo.com/what-causes-mercer-disease-5777878.html?cat=5<br><br></a></div><div><div>"Mercer disease is a form of infection that is highly resistant to common antibiotics and is easily transferred through open wounds. Transmission of the disease also happens when one uses towels or linens used by someone who is infected with the bacteria. The bacteria usually reside in a person's nose or skin and usually enter another person's body through an opening on the skin, like a wound or a crack. A carrier of the bacteria may not necessarily get sick with it, but may pass the infection to someone else.<br><br></div><div>Mercer disease is called MRSA in short which stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria, or staph bacteria. The name is based on the fact that the infection is resistant to methicillin, which is the common variety of antibiotics prescribed for staph."<br><br>Why keep wounds clean and covered. Those first aid points are not for nothing.<br><br>and another relevant point:<br><br>"The MRSA bacteria can easily migrate when any of the body fluids, for example, sweat, blood or spit, of an infected person or of a carrier of the bacteria is left on any surface and another person touches this surface."<br><br>MRSA bacteria aren't the only ones that can cause you grief in wounds. Know your first aid. Keep wounds clean and covered.&nbsp;<br><br>I don't take any special precautions with public (or private) showers. I do wear flip flops as don't like walking on the floors in public showers rather than any concern about fungus.<br><br>Cuts and scrapes I keep them clean, and use&nbsp;<a style="font-size: 13px;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betadine" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betadine</a>&nbsp;cream on them.&nbsp;</div></div>

 

[Willy]

Sandals; I always wear them in a public shower. ..Willy.

 

[caseyc]

I always wear hard sandals too as I never walk barefeet anywhere on public grounds. I cringe when I see others walking around barefeet, especially kids. Heck, I don't even like walking through low lying tree branches because I'm afraid of possible ticks and lyme disease! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif">

 

[Zil]

Lysol concentrate. A splash in water. heavier to disinfect shower floor, lighter to clean wounds. I use those plastic shoes, like crocs. protect full foot and easy sanitized.

 

[my_vantasy]

I always wear my shower shoes (yes, I know they are weird and I look ridiculous wearing them), then put them in a sunny place to dry. Someone told me the sun naturally bleaches things.

 

[Zil]

Yes. It is the ultraviolet light waves.

 

[Ocean]

MRSA can be contracted from pretty much anywhere / anything. I was bit in the face by a dog a few weeks ago and had deep pucture wounds under my eye and through my nose and also through my thumb. A serious infection set in in the wound under my eye and the doc was concerned it was MRSA, contracted from the towel that was used when the bite occured (this happened at work).&nbsp;Injections and 2 weeks of some terribly&nbsp;powerful antibiotics and it finally healed. Doc explained that MRSA can be found anywhere, you can even get an infection walking through grass. Like others have said, be very careful with any cuts or wounds. Keep them covered and clean.

 

[k&p Catalano]

I wear my crocs in the shower, Even at home. for a couple of reasons. They are non-skid (unless they are worn out), they keep your feet higher up than shower flip flops. I find your feet tend to slip off the edge of shower flip flops.&nbsp;<br><br>also if you notice the drainage in the shower is slow and the water is getting deep due to a clog. you might want to select another shower stall.<br><br>about MRSA I could be wrong but I've heard that once you get it you have it for life, it just goes into remission until the next flare up. You might never have another visible infection but you become a carrier. A friend of mine contracted it through her job. She was a custodian at a college dormitory and got it cleaning the bathrooms.

 

[yesican]

Best place to get MRSA is clinics and hospitals.&nbsp; Can't tell you how many home care patients I've had who contracted MRSA after surgery only to be on IV antibiotics at home for 6 weeks.&nbsp; One teenager contracted MRSA after&nbsp;injuring his toe&nbsp;and spent 2 months on antibiotics that required twice a week blood draws for monitoring the antibiotics affects on the liver.&nbsp; If you need to go to a clinic or hospital, cover cuts and wash your hands any chance you can when there.&nbsp; I can't stress it enough!

 

[James AKA Lynx]

non-slip shoes are a must. Wash with soap and lest stand for 15 seconds. Makes sure that your towels are dry before reuse. Keep healthy.&nbsp;<br><br>Tea Tree&nbsp; Oil is a good disinfectant for skin. <br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[Guest]

<span class="hw" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial;">re·mis·sion</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span><span class="pron" style="cursor: pointer; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: #809e83; border-bottom-style: dashed; font-family: Arial;">(r<img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" class="bbc_img">-m<img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" class="bbc_img">sh<img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.gif" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/schwa.gif" class="bbc_img">n)</span><div class="pseg" style="font-family: Arial;"><em>n.</em><div class="ds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>1.</strong><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>a.&nbsp;</strong>The act of remitting.</div><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>b.&nbsp;</strong>A condition or period in which something is remitted.</div></div><div class="ds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>2.&nbsp;</strong>A lessening of intensity or degree; abatement.</div><div class="ds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>3.</strong><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>a.&nbsp;</strong><em>Medicine</em>&nbsp;Abatement or subsiding of the symptoms of a disease.</div><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>b.&nbsp;</strong>The period during which the symptoms of a disease abate or subside.</div></div><div class="ds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>4.</strong><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>a.&nbsp;</strong>Release, as from a debt, penalty, or obligation.</div><div class="sds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;"><strong>b.&nbsp;</strong>Forgiveness; pardon.</div></div></div><br><br>From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/remission" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.thefreedictionary.com/remission</a><br><br>And from&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remission_(medicine)#Remission" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remission_(medicine)#Remission<br><br></a>"<strong style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">Remission</strong><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">&nbsp;is the state of absence of&nbsp;</span><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;" title="Disease" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">disease</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">&nbsp;activity in patients known to have a&nbsp;</span><a class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;" title="Chronic illness" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_illness" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">chronic illness</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">&nbsp;that cannot be cured. It is commonly used to refer to absence of active&nbsp;</span><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;" title="Cancer" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">cancer</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">&nbsp;or</span><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;" title="Inflammatory bowel disease" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammatory_bowel_disease" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">inflammatory bowel disease</a><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 19.19791603088379px;">&nbsp;when these diseases are expected to manifest again in the future..."</span><br><br>So going into "remission" does not mean that the bacteria is gone.. Just that its not causing problems.<br><br>Since MRSA is found everywhere, and&nbsp;&nbsp;someone that has had it once could get infected again. &nbsp;

 

[Ziggy Moon]

MRSA is an infection caused by an antibiotic resistant bacteria (a staph infection) that resulted from over prescribed and/or the unnecessary use of antibiotics.<br><br>There are other resistant stains of bacteria to worry about, such as VRSA... also a result of over prescribed and/or the unnecessary use of antibiotics.<br><br>and even though it's not spread by contact.... lets not forget, Cellulitis.... another bacterial infection. However, it is not just one particular type of bacteria that causes this infection. Yet, there is one particular bacteria, Staphylococcus Aureus that is the most common cause of Cellulitis, and it just happens to also be the most difficult to treat - yet again, a resistance to antibiotics resulting from the over prescribed and/or the unnecessary use of antibiotics.<br>&nbsp;<br><br>Also, when using a public shower, water fountain, hot tub, etc., you should consider the 'possibility' of contracting Legionella (AKA; Legionnaires' disease), a bacteria commonly spread through airborne water droplets.&nbsp;<br><br>100% of the people living, will die! <br><br>Just use common sense - be cautious, always wear shower shoes in a public toilet/bathing facility. - If a bathing/shower facility looks nasty, unsanitary, <strong>avoid it!</strong>. If you have a weak immune system, <strong>avoid it!</strong> Or, if you have an open wound, <strong>avoid it!</strong><br><br>But if you do have an open wound... wash it with soap and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">clean</span> water, and keep it dry and covered.&nbsp; <br><br> <br><br><br><br>

 

[James AKA Lynx]

Learn how to shower in a campground close to your vehicle. <br><br>the showers that I have seen, I would not want to use. So easy to clean, I do not see why the camp host does not clean them well.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[RVTravel]

MRSA can be anywhere. The person probably did not acquire it from running water. Swimming pools and whirlpools can harbor the bacteria. Getting in any non-running water with an open wound is a no-no. Sharing bar soap, towels, etc with others should be avoided.<br><br>http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevent/personal.html<br>http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevent/athletic.html

 

[Donedirtcheap]

We bought an RV so we wouldn't have to stay at motels just because of the bedbug and flea issues. I now love my tiny little RV shower even more.

 

[Patrick46]

GADS!!!

All this stuff is out to kill us!! I think I'll just lock myself in the closet and never come out again!!!


....(excet to take a shower!)

 

[Lucky mike]

normally the only public showers I run into are in campgrounds.....I have a spray bottle of pure bleach for that purpose and just spray it down and rinse it before I use it....and a pair of good flip flops for back up!!!!

 

[freenez2]

I use Lotrimin athletes foot spray as a preventative after showering in public places.

 

[akrvbob]

I generally shower at Loves or Pilot/Flying J truck stops and I think they are meticulous in their cleanliness. One time I was waiting for my shower and saw them cleaning one and man they covered every inch of that place with a very strong anti-bacterial.

I have a lot of confidence in them.
Bob

PS- They are expensive but if you shower with a friend they are half price!!:blush: