Would you do this....

If you were going to a person's home, and they requested that you took your shoes off when entering, and you knew they had five (5) cats running loose through the house shedding fur all over; would you remove your shoes, if they provided no other type of footwear such as new clean slippers, flip flops or other such footwear for you to wear. Also, one such person who lives in such household has had a severe case of MRSA, which means said person walks barefoot on the tile and carpeted floors, of which they want you to walk with your feet in "socks", then put your fur covered "socks" back into your shoes. Or if you are barefoot (no socks), you would be walking on the same tile/carpeted floors as they have walked on (the person who had the severe case of MRSA.

Would you do so?

I'm just pondering this, as to what others would do in a situation such as this if presented to them. This is a family member's home, this will occur at. The reason for removing the shoes is due to light color carpeting; though it's not like we would be wearing "filthy shoes" to their home.

What say you all - would you remove your "shoes" or say no due to this one person having had MRSA and the relative recentness of the MRSA, does not mean they are still not a carrier of MRSA at this stage; nor have they been tested to insure they are not a carrier at this point in time, to be considered MRSA "free" - if there is even such a thing after contraction of MRSA. If you do not understand what MRSA is, please Google it

OT all you want on this - I'd really like to hear the opinions on this - as I know in some cultures - removing shoes is the norm - this is not a cultural thing going on here.

I won't remove my shoes. Have them put a hall runner or something over the light colored rug.

I would either wear fur covered socks or not go in. Possibly bring along some sandals or something to wear, that have not been worn outside.

I don't know how MRSA is transmitted...can it be through fabric (as in furniture). etc...if that's the case, is the exposure that much greater with bare feet? What about covering your face and hands?

We take off our shoes when entering our home. But we don't ask people to do so, unless they ask us if we'd like them to remove their shoes.

Quote from emelvee : I don't know how MRSA is transmitted...can it be through fabric (as in furniture). etc...if that's the case, is the exposure that much greater with bare feet? What about covering your face and hands? We take off our shoes when entering our home. But we don't ask people to do so, unless they ask us if we'd like them to remove their shoes.

Any places where an exposed "I want to say sore" has touched can be a place to transmit it. So if they walk around barefoot and have a exposed sore.

Quote from Jex : I would either wear fur covered socks or not go in. Possibly bring along some sandals or something to wear, that have not been worn outside.

This. Obviously you know about this beforehand if you know of the MRSA and the cats. Be prepared and bring your own (washable) slippers or if you're going to visit often get a pair to leave at this home.

Disposable shoe covers? About 10 cents apiece via Amazon or Ebay, a bit more at local hardware stores.

Quote from emelvee : I don't know how MRSA is transmitted...can it be through fabric (as in furniture). etc...if that's the case, is the exposure that much greater with bare feet? What about covering your face and hands? We take off our shoes when entering our home. But we don't ask people to do so, unless they ask us if we'd like them to remove their shoes.

Very good question, which required me to research that and here is the resulting answer:

MRSA Incubation

When MRSA bacteria first begin multiply, no rash is visible on the skin and the patient will not have any symptoms. After one to 10 days, some signs or symptoms will begin to appear. However, not everyone who carries MRSA is symptomatic, which makes it difficult to keep it from spreading to others, even in a hospital setting. If MRSA is suspected or diagnosed, it is important to enforce isolation and have anyone who enters the room wear protective clothing, a mask, and gloves. MRSA is highly contagious and can be spread between individuals via skin-to-skin contact, shared items, such as towels or cups, and common surfaces such as tables and counter tops. Some strains of MRSA are completely resistant to antibiotics.


Carrying MRSA

Once a person has MRSA, they remain a carrier and can put others at risk of contracting the disease. People can carry MRSA for days, weeks or even several years, during which time it is possible to have another infection or transmit it to others.


Reducing Risk of MRSA

There are ways to reduce the risk of transmitting MRSA, including washing items regularly with antibacterial agents, washing clothes separately and wearing a mask. Despite taking precautions, physicians often recommended that people who carry MRSA avoid others who may have a weakened immune system, including those with illnesses, children and the elderly.


Since I am a care giver to an elderly person - I feel this puts me in an "at risk position" to ask me to remove my "shoes" in this person(s) home - and walk with at the minimum only my socks on and/or bare feet. Eating there is out of the question, as we will not be eating there, due to this situation.

Quote from redjen910 : This. Obviously you know about this beforehand if you know of the MRSA and the cats. Be prepared and bring your own (washable) slippers or if you're going to visit often get a pair to leave at this home.

Good idea, but leaving a pair there, would not insure that the person with MRSA has not "touched them".

Quote from trygve : Disposable shoe covers? About 10 cents apiece via Amazon or Ebay, a bit more at local hardware stores.

This would be the better idea, in order to safe guard ourselves - in fact I think I still have some pairs left from when the carpets were cleaned, and we needed to wear these on our shoes until the carpets were completely dried - if not - I'll go to HD to see if they have them or check Amazon.

just don't go in the house.

Everyone who comes in my house takes off their shoes or else they get a bat to the teeth and side of the head..

Oils, fertilizers and other man made industrial products are not meant to be tracked into a house.

It's the custom in the majority of homes here in the PNW to remove your shoes at the door. Considerate hosts will provide slippers, footies or sandals for you to wear in their home. For the non considerate hosts, I make a point to wear socks, not that I'm worried about MSRA (they don't have pets) but because my feet get cold easily.

Quote : MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.

Since it's so easy to catch certain strains of MSRA through skin to skin contact or your skin contacting an infected surface, then as a caregiver, don't go to their house and don't shake their hand or touch them. Protecting your feet won't be enough protection.

tl;dr

Quote from Zoe Moon : It's the custom in the majority of homes here in the PNW to remove your shoes at the door. Considerate hosts will provide slippers, footies or sandals for you to wear in their home. For the non considerate hosts, I make a point to wear socks, not that I'm worried about MSRA (they don't have pets) but because my feet get cold easily. Since it's so easy to catch certain strains of MSRA through skin to skin contact or your skin contacting an infected surface, then as a caregiver, don't go to their house and don't shake their hand or touch them. Protecting your feet won't be enough protection.

We have to go to their home, I also have latex gloves that we will be able to wear, and masks as well, so those foot covers are the only other things I would need in order to protect ourselves, to make the best of this situation. Our time at their home will be limited, as we have another place to stay. But there will be another trip at a later time, in which I will be staying there for an entire "week" - but again, I will not be eating there, as I refuse to. So caution will be my utmost concern - bringing my own towels with me, my own shampoo's, bath supplies, etc.

I don't think this family member realizes the situation they have put "us" in with this; although they are in the medical field themselves.

I thank everyone for their responses, I did not think I was off in my opinion of this matter

Bunny slippers