# My roommate has a staph infection, how do I avoid certain death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217 "2007-03-23T17:44:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/1 "2007-03-23T17:44:17Z")
For about the last week or so, my roommate has had on her arm what we assumed were mosquito bites. They were slightly bigger and redder than regular bug bites, but sometimes mosquito bites on your arm that you’re regularly messing with puff up, so we didn’t think much of it. Last Tuesday she went to go visit her parents on the coast, where she woke up sick to her stomach and feeling like death had kicked her in her nonexistant nuts. Her RN mother made her go to the hospital right away, where they confirmed her mother’s concerns: roomie has a staph infection from what the doctor thinks are four spider bites (two on the arms and two on the torso). The doctor thinks the spider was the one carrying the staph, but her mom said she’s seen a lot of college students in her hospital lately with staph infections. So, Mom thinks that roomie jut got bit, then rubbed dirty college germs all over her wounds. I digress. The point is that she’s staying a few hours away until Saturday. In the mean time, I just got home from working out of town and realized that my house is a cesspool of evil and hate. I bought some Lysol spray and sprayed . . . everything. Three times. I also got some Lysol wipes and I’m going to clean the kitchen top to bottom tonight. Then spray everything with Lysol four more times. I’m also washing my hands after touching anything and attempting to not rub any open wounds on her bed or anything :p. Is there anything else I could (or should) do? Steam clean the carpets? Burn down the apartment? Witch doctor? Also, are there any symptoms I should keep an eye out for in myself so I can catch any illness early? \ I meant to add: she’s on three different antibiotics (one shot and two pills) as well as the Vicodin motherload for the pain. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/2 "2007-03-23T17:51:07Z")
Oh, one thing more. She has Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). I don’t know if that makes a difference or not, but I’d like to cover all my bases. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/3 "2007-03-23T17:57:09Z")
It sounds like you are doing just about everything a reasonable person could do. However, an oft given bit of advice on this forum is to nuke it from orbit, its the only way to be sure. My contribution is get that out of the way so more intelligent posters can prevail. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/4 "2007-03-23T17:58:34Z")
When my SIL had MRSA in the nursing home and hospital, we were required to gown up. I’m not sure whose benefit that was for, but they definitely wanted a barrier between us and her. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/5 "2007-03-23T17:59:01Z")
Don’t bother, you’re not going to be able to eliminate it, short of turning your apartment into a silicon chip fab clean room. If your friend picked up a _S. aureus_ infection, which is quite common, then there’s absolutely nothing you can do, you’re pretty much going to find that particular bug everywhere (including the skin and noses of healthy people). Similarly with _S. epidermis_, which is commensal on human skin. Both of _S. aureus_ and _S. epidermis_ can cause disease if they get into the wrong part of the body. Do you know which species your friend has? \I see that it’s MRSA. In which case, give the hard surfaces a good wipe down with soap and water. Hoover the carpets, change the bed linen and wash the bath/shower and toilet. That’s all you can do.\ ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/6 "2007-03-23T18:01:16Z")
Now, I _would_ nuke the apartment, but there are two fatal flaws with that plan: 1: I, apparently, don’t have nukes. Plutonium is hard to come by, dontchaknow. 2: I don’t have renters insurance and you know, I sort of like my stuff. I mean, I could take my stuff out of the apartment and all, but that would really defeat the purpose of nuking all staph infected things. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/7 "2007-03-23T18:02:44Z")
Does alcohol kill it? Drink heavily. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/8 "2007-03-23T18:03:48Z")
And eep, this does not sound promising. She has her own bathroom, so I’m leaving that one up to her, same goes for her bedroom. I hosed the couch down with Lysol last night and plan on repeating that treatment today. Does anyone know how long she’ll be contagious for? She’s going to go back and ask the doctor, but is this like any other antibiotic treated infection? Within 24-48 hours she should be ok? Or do I need to lock her out of the house until I get one of those biohazard tents, all ET style? ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/9 "2007-03-23T18:04:39Z")
Ack! Wowzers, that sucks. I think you’re doing the right thing: namely, clean _everything_. And go see a doctor to make sure you’re okay! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/10 "2007-03-23T18:05:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] Does alcohol kill it? Drink heavily. [/QUOTE] Yes, sir! 😃 And now that you’ve given me the definitive answer, I suppose I’ll just request that this thread be closed. I mean, what more could I, a college student, possibly need? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/11 "2007-03-23T18:06:39Z")
[QUOTE=Spatial Rift 47] Ack! Wowzers, that sucks. I think you’re doing the right thing: namely, clean _everything_. And go see a doctor to make sure you’re okay! [/QUOTE] Can they test for stuff? Like should I go in and have my blood drawn or something? I am not feeling particularly ill or anything. I’m not sleeping more than usual. I have no open wounds that are oozing bacteria that is running out of my flesh and screaming at the couch or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/12 "2007-03-23T18:07:42Z")
[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima] I have no open wounds that are oozing bacteria that is running out of my flesh and screaming at the couch or anything. [/QUOTE] Any more than usual you mean? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/13 "2007-03-23T18:09:14Z")
Well, yeah. I mean, there’s that one, but I can’t really openly talk about it. Or so says the government. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/14 "2007-03-23T18:13:24Z")
What did the doctors tell her parents to do at their house, since she was there too? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/15 "2007-03-23T18:17:08Z")
Well that’s the thing, they didn’t tell her anything. They just told her wash all of her clothes and sheets everyday. Her mom, being an RN, brought home a big bottle of those wipes that kill AIDS or whatever from the hospital and has been wiping everything down. I might ask roomie to see if her mom can get some so we can use them at our house. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/16 "2007-03-23T18:24:01Z")
**Diosa** , I’m sure there’s a blood test they could do to see if you’re infected. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/17 "2007-03-23T18:35:06Z")
Maybe I’m nuts or misinformed … but I didn’t think staph infections were quite that infectious. Isn’t exposure to unbroken skin totally safe? After that, you’re not likely to lick sofas, linens, kitchen & bath surfaces, etc. > [@](#): > > Her mom, being an RN, brought home a big bottle of those wipes that kill AIDS or whatever from the hospital and has been wiping everything down. I might ask roomie to see if her mom can get some so we can use them at our house. Maybe I’m nuts, Part II: doesn’t the AIDS virus die quickly in the open air? I’m thinking that **Diosa** is not – and never was, absent extreme carelessness – in any real danger here. But if I’m wrong about that, I’m interested in learning more. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/18 "2007-03-23T19:01:17Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Maybe I’m nuts or misinformed … but I didn’t think staph infections were quite that infectious. Isn’t exposure to unbroken skin totally safe? After that, you’re not likely to lick sofas, linens, kitchen & bath surfaces, etc. [/QUOTE] It’s my understanding that the MRSA kind is a bit scarier than regular, but I might be wrong. That’s why I’m askin’ 🙂 . I think that unbroken skin is fine, but I still have eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth, and a couple other fun openings that things could crawl into. I just want to be as careful as possible. [QUOTE=bordelond] Maybe I’m nuts, Part II: doesn’t the AIDS virus die quickly in the open air? [/QUOTE] I was kidding there, but they do have hospital grade wipes that they use to clean anything and everything. I imagine they are industrial strength and a bit stronger than your average Lysol wipe. [QUOTE=bordelond] I’m thinking that **Diosa** is not – and never was, absent extreme carelessness – in any real danger here. But if I’m wrong about that, I’m interested in learning more. [/QUOTE] Ditto. Which is why I’m just making sure. I’d rather not have to go through what she’s going through at the moment! ---
**Author:** ![ignorant\_but\_learning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc348/32.png) [@ignorant\_but\_learning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignorant_but_learning)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/19 "2007-03-23T19:12:11Z")
I thought “staph infections” were borne in places "such as hospitals, BECAUSE of “germ-free” environments…nothing there to fight them…too much anti-bacterial soap is more likely than not- to allow you to get sick! so “they” say??? ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217/20 "2007-03-23T19:23:10Z")
[QUOTE=Spatial Rift 47] **Diosa** , I’m sure there’s a blood test they could do to see if you’re infected. [/QUOTE] Nasal swab usually. If she’s carrying the bug that should find out. It’s totally possible to carry MRSA and be asymptomatic. If she was septicaemic I think she would know about it. The thing is not to freak out too much. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-roommate-has-a-staph-infection-how-do-i-avoid-certain-death/397217.md?page=2)