Staph infection

[SueK]

I am a disability support worker in Australia and I have just found out that one of the people I am helping has a Staph infection. My work involves personal care which is of course quite a big worry. The problem started out as a huge blister on the sole of his foot. It was approx 8 cms x 5 cms - very scarey. My employer didn't tell any of the staff who are working with this person, but I found out first hand from the client I am working with, that the swab test the doctor did was positive for Staph.

I think that the employer is worried that if the workers know what the problem is, then they won't want to work for this client. They have covered up and hidden the real facts. My doctor told me that the privacy laws in Australia have gone too far. If a client has AIDS or hepatitis or staph or anything like that, as workers assisting these people, we are not entitled to know about these illnesses because of privacy laws. What do other people think?? I am very disappointed and also very concerned for the people that don't know about the problems that they are working with.

It is winter here in Australia, but day time temperatures are nice and warm and I have have a big sort out in my shade house. I have been potting on and throwing out the dead tiddlers that I was optimistic about when I bought them. Also thrown out the dead back bulbs that I thought may have survived and that I could pass on to my friends.

What do you orchid people know about staph problems in other countries??

Sue

[Daethen]

Doesn't sound a bit right to me. I am really not sure what the laws are here, but I believe that the care giver has a right to know so that they can take precautions. I imagine that you would have to let the client know if you had something like aids or staph. It is only fair in the reverse.