How to stop the spread of this bacteria?

I know couple who had somebody come and deep clean their dishwasher and clothes washer to get rid of strep.
They also "deep cleaned" the pets. And threw out all the pet toys, blankets and beds.

Actually they went really overboard and tossed everything they could, but this all came after six months of constant illness.

I think you need to ditch the Clorox wipes and go with actual diluted bleach (regular, not the no splash kind). Mix it up fresh, spray on surfaces and let it sit for five minutes. Rinse and let air dry. Even with the wipes you are supposed to let the solution sit but I don't find the wipes to be wet enough to do this for the time needed.

I mean no disrespect when I say this, but as a nurse with 20 years experience, who deals with MRSA on a daily basis, please stop doing this. You are most likely making things worse and not better. I know as mom's your have spidey senses, but you can't tell just by looking, what type of bacteria is growing in a wound. It needs to be cultured and treated with the appropriate antibiotics. I would highly encourage you to take everyone in the house with an open and suspicious wound to the doctor, have them cultured and see what grows out. In the mean time, wash everything in hot water, and bleach. Bed sheets, clothes, and everything that is being touched. And on top of that, your other son needs a complete course of antibiotics to clear him of his own infection.

You need to make sure everyone is washing their hands. All the time. No exceptions.

MRSA has become very prevalent everywhere. The problem is that it must be treated, and the infection and drainage should be contained in dressing, washing hands and things that are touched by the bodily fluids. Otherwise it becomes a viscous cycle and a dangerous game to play.



MRSA is a staph infection if you were unclear on that. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Good luck to you guys. I hope you can get everything cleared up!

Here is a good resource
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/mrsa/book.html

Also it could be that because your kids are boys, they are more prone to wrestling around and touching ea other? hence spreading it more? I am around MRSA numerous times a day, and have never gotten it. We just reg Sani wipes here. Be aware of the WET times though. It should say on the container. Many are 3mins, and 5 for the bleach. We only use bleach for C-diff cleaning. The other things is building up a resistance. If your kids are always on a antibiotic, or have been, they have no resistance. Their body can't defend itself. Try not to have them on an antibiotic for every little thing. Also like one of the Ps suggested one of your kids is probably colonized and needs to be tested-nasal swab, and treated.

I agree with what has been said; use bleach and water (not Clorox). And most definitely stop sharing the medicine. Everyone gets their own, to take for the full amount of time even if the spots clear up.

A friend of mine had issues with staph in their home and one of the things she read was the worst for recontaminating is hand towels in bathrooms and kitchens. They used the Kleenex hand towels for a while.

#1 - Don't EVER do this. You are contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Each person should finish their own course of antibiotics and each person should have their own testing done to make sure it really is the same thing, not just something that looks like something someone else has or had.

I don't know of anything high powered that doesnt contain bleach, but I would be at a minimal using Lysol. 

I would get a professional cleaners in to disinfectant your furniture & surfaces with the industrial cleaning products.

Wash everything in high heat & bleach whatever you can.  

Do you have a sanitize cycle on your washer? All clothes, toweling, and bedding need to go on that.

Put a cover on the couch for a few months.

Make sure everyone gets to the doctor and gets a special wash plus any antibiotics as needed.

Sanitize every bath and sink and toilet with bleach as strong and as long as you can stand. Shampoo carpets (maybe look into having a service steam clean them), mop every floor with bleach if possible.

Spray shoes with Lysol. Replace any athletic equipment that you can't easily sterilize.

Try to think like a germ and imagine where you'd hide and breed. Then attack! I'm not a germaphobe but I am one when confronted with something like this.

I've read it can live on surfaces for >2 weeks with 24 hours being more common.

Its more likely to live on wet, humid surfaces vs. dry surfaces.