Norovirus - does having PMR increase my risk?

[Mfaepink1973]

I am currently on 5.5 mg prednisolone. The Care Home where I work part time has an outbreak of Norovirus with a lot of the residents and staff being infected, am I more at risk because of my PMR and steroid dependency?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Given it is Norovirus, I doubt you need to be on pred to be at risk of that! You can be perfectly healthy but being in the same room is enough. Do they encourage you to use PPE and a mask when working with the residents?

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to PMRpro]

I wouldn’t say encourage exactly but masks and protective aprons are available and I use them. The fact that all four supervisors have been infected speaks volumes about the level of infection control there 😡

[MrsNails in reply to Mfaepink1973]

I’ve been on Steroids for a long time plus a longish period of Methotrexate adding to the burden of being immunosuppressed.

When l worked in the Hospital we’d get Outbreaks on the Wards but although we dealt with Outpatients we took responsibility for our own health.

Hand Washing is key & the toilets you use need to kept clean, wiping the Door & Toilet Handles. We were lucky as only three of us used ours, we wiped the Toilet Seat, luckily we were all equally fastidious & it kept us well 🙏🏼

Aprons, Masks & Gloves plus Hand Washing is essential then hopefully you have a Staff Loo but if it’s spreading to Staff, then hygiene has to be top of your list.

Good Luck 🍀

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks MRs Nails, it’s frustrating when I’m very aware of infection control measures but working with people some of whom don’t seem to understand basic hygiene. Luckily tomorrow will be the last of four consecutive days working then I’ll be off for five days so hopefully the worst will be over by then.🤞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mfaepink1973]

My daughter waxes lyrical about that!!!!!