Working in healthcare and on Imuran

[Paislee]

So I am starting on Imuran and also will be starting my career in healthcare. I am a little worried with this as Imuran is an immunosuppressant and I work very closely with patients. I am a Medical lab assistant, so I do blood collection which I am sure everyone is familiar with. Is anyone else here on Imuran and work in healthcare? Is there any advice you can give to better protect myself?

 

[CLynn]

Didn't work in healthcare, but first time on it, my daughter was an infant and getting vaccines, etc, and I have always worked with the public. Like you, I always worry, but just try to be diligent in hand washing and all the normal precautions.

 

[Robert747]

Is there any advice you can give to better protect myself?

I am completely unsure what the actual risks are - reading the leaflet with the tablets makes you feel you should not set foot outside your front door - but this is all about 'worst case'. I am only two months in - but don't intend making any changes to my lifestyle - including being out in the sun during the two week British summer!

 

[Rebecca85]

I don't work in healthcare- but I do work in childcare which is probably the second most 'germy' job out there, what with exposure to chickenpox, slapped cheek, and at least 4 different bodily fluids a day!

Personally, I haven't had a problem with getting ill other than colds (which do tend to have more symtoms and run for longer than the average person).

I have made sure that all my immunisations are up to date, and I do get the seasonal flu jab.

At work, I just make sure I wear gloves etc when doing bodily fluids, and keep up with handwashing, which I'm sure you do anyway being in healthcare. The only other thing is you could possibly wear a mask when dealing directly with patients.

 

[littlemissh]

I work in direct contact with lots of germy patients and also have persistently low white count from aza and humira. I have not appeared to pick up any infections from work, the infections I have picked up have been from outside work.
I made sure I got my hep b, rubella and varicella antibodies checked, also flu jab.
Should really get pneumococcal jab as should everyone on immunosuppressants but haven't yet.