The FLU isn’t the only thing you can catch!
The trucking lifestyle isn’t always the cleanest. We are constantly touching things like fuel pumps, counter tops, ATM machines, video games, door handles, pens and other things that have been handled by who knows how many people. We also are faced with showering in public facilities that are supposedly cleaned after each use. Sometimes these showers even have drainage problems that cause standing water. YUK!
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a very serious bacterial infection that can cause loss of a toe, limb or even your life if not treated. Recently I met a trucker that actually got this in a truck stop shower. he didn’t realize it at first, thinking that the itching and redness he was experiencing was just a case of athletes foot! After a few weeks his toe became so inflamed that he could barely drive or even walk. His toe was red, swollen and extremely painful. On his way home for some “home-time” with his family, he called his wife and said he was not going straight home but was going to the emergency room. It’s a good thing he did. This infection was spreading and could have killed him. He was already experiencing fever and chills and was sick to his stomach. Luckily he didn’t lose his toe, YET! It has been a few months since he required the IV treatment for three weeks and was still taking oral antibiotics and in much pain. he showed me his to and it looked very bad. He is not out of the woods yet! It will be months before he is fully recovered from this.
We don’t usually think about something so serious being in the showers that we use every day! MRSA or any other staff infections are nothing to blow off. These infections can sometimes fool you by looking like a spider bite at first. We as Professional drivers are most at risk of contracting these infections in the bathrooms or showers at truck stops or in rest areas. Your feet are especially at risk if you already have a case of athletes foot or have cracked skin on your feet. This is how the bacteria gets in. Shower shoes only provide minimal protection from this.
Prevention
* If you see that there is standing water in the shower, put your clothes back on and ask for another shower.
* Always make sure you wash your feet with soap.
* Always dry your feet thoroughly before putting shoes and sock on.
* Change your socks often and try to stick to 100% cotton.
* These infections can be spread from your hands to your face so always keep your hands washed.
Warning Signs
If you experience redness, itching or swelling, see a doctor. Bacterial infections can be serious and contagious! You wouldn’t want to bring this home to your family!
Be Safe!
Dear Truck Drivers and truckers wifes,
I am an otr truck driver and my wife is a stay at home mom we have 3 beautiful children. In reguards to mrsa I had contacted it a rare form of salamonella back in Oct of 09 which then turned into mrsa. I have gone into hospital afew times for lancing and have been on many different types of medicanes for my mrsa. I get bouts pretty much everyday and then the next day or two they are gone. My heart is fine but lately my blood pressure has been threw the roof so im on a pill for that on top of my meds for mrsa. Its been a roller coaster. And I am still trucking
I glad you are still trucking on. Bacteria infections can get very nasty and sometimes disfiguring. It seems that once you get a bad case, you are prone for life to more. So I wonder if our bidies are ever truly rid of them if they are so easy to get again or if they compromise our imune system. I am going to look into that.
The best of luck to you and thank you for sharing your story.
Jan
Yep, I’ve had athletes foot related to showering at some truckstops, and that was even WITH wearing shower shoes.
I started carrying the Lysol as well, and kept my feet dry, free of cracks and changed socks DAILY!
At one time I had 6 weeks worth of socks with me, just in case.
I also kept extra shoes or boots with me as well.
I’m out of the truck now, but still practice some of these same things, even in my own home.
And MRSA can kill! It’s a nasty infection, and the bacteria actually lives inside your nose, so always be sure to wash your hands after touching your nose and before touching anything or anywhere else.
A friend of our family had MRSA and nearly died, and my dad recently had knee replacement surgery, then had to go back into the hospital for cellulitis in his incision, and they were VERY VERY diligent about having him on antibiotics and keeping clean so that he wasn’t struck with this terrible infection.