MERSA can occur without a hospital stay. My 38-year-old son fell, skinned his knee, and developed MERSA. He was nowhere near a hospital.

If British Royals can go,give birth, and go home the same day, I guess we can too, though they do have help at home.

I sure hate to stay very long, but we also live 50 miles from the hospital we use and I insist that our docs don't let us out too early "just in case"--my DH had appendix out and was little too late--ended up with bleeding ulcer that required 5 units of blood transfusion--and they had planned to let him out that next day--instead spent 6 days in critical care instead of an overnite visit. He had knee replaced a year ago--I've had both replaced and our doc keeps us in the hospital at least 2 nights as he doesn't want us having problems and being unable to get too hospital in time.

I have suffered ( and recovered completely) from sepsis, septic shock on 2 occasions. I consider myself very blessed indeed. They were not from nosocomial infections but a immune deficiency. The 1st time I came entirely too close to dying twice. Both times including ICU stays, it is a very painful condition. Many patients lose limbs due to vascular collapse. It took a year to recover from the first episode, less from the second.

If spending less time in the hospital lessens the likelihood you could go through what I have....park your car in recovery !! Hospitals are even being remodeled/constructed with all rooms being private for infection control reason. I avoid surgery at all cost. I pray I never suffer another septic episode, I dont think my guardian angel would survive a third strike!

It might depend on the surgery. I have had two surgeries in the last two years, and both were aided by robots. It is not done by the robot, but is considered to be 'aided' by one. The doc does the surgery. The incisions are much smaller, but there are multiple ones instead of one long one. Also, the docs say there is less chance for infection to be aided by a machine, and also to be released quickly. I was released the same day and didn't have any problems. Hospitals are full of bacteria, no matter how good the cleaning staff is, and I would rather be at home in familiar surroundings anyway. One surgery was gall bladder, the other was more intensive with a 6 week recovery period. I go in 2 more days to get the final all clear on the last surgery. So, yes, I think the quick send home is a good thing.

my husband was in a car accident a few years ago and the Hospital and Doctor released him even though he couldn't even get up to go to the bathroom. Doctors!!! finally, turned out he was having severe muscle spasms in his neck and back due to the wreck. our family Doctor found this and recommended rehab. worked!

I had a hysterectomy in 2004, and because of severe endometriosis, they had to do it the "traditional" way. I had a hipbone-to-hipbone incision. The surgery was done on a Monday. I was up and walking on Tuesday. The bed was horribly uncomfortable and I had to move! (It was kind of funny, because when they came into my room to make me get up, there I was ... already up and walking around. I guess having uncomfortable beds is one way to get folks moving! LOL!) I went home on Wednesday. No problems at all. :)

Years ago, my mom spent 9 or 10 days in the hospital when she had hers. :shock:

When my knees were "replaced", surgery Friday am and home Sun afternoon. My doctor said the hospital isn't necessarily the safest place to be. Good care while there, then in home services for follow up. My husband on the other hand was in for 3 days on morphine to have a simple gall bladder removed.

A friend of mine almost died after having gall bladder surgery - - - it was the pain relief medication that did it to her.

MERSA occurs on our skin. I have been given a surgical soap to scrub with before going in for the last two surgeries. That seems to help eliminate the MERSA problem. So far. Knock wood.