Msra!

[velogirl]

when my father contracted MRSA in 1997, he was placed in isolation (to protect him) and treated with steroids and vancomycin. vanco (a super-powerful antibiotic) was the only drug effective at treating MRSA at the time. his immune system was already compromised because of the drugs he took for RA and he died about 6 months after contracting MRSA.

two years later my mother had nasal surgery and the docs confirmed that she had colonized MRSA (ie was carrying it all this time). she was placed in isolation and treated with vanco. she didn't die.

in 2005, I suffered a post-surgical infection in one of my salivary glands. my doc confirmed it was also MRSA (apparently I had colonized it 8 years prior). I was not hospitalized (this surprised me) but was treated with vanco. I didn't die either.

I remember a statistic from 1997 when my father contracted MRSA that approximately 80% of all hospital personnel were colonized with MRSA. my father contracted MRSA during surgery (spinal fusion). if my mother and I really weren't colonized in 1997 (as assumed by our docs), one could then assume that we also contracted MRSA during surgery.

hospitals can be scary places. I truly believe you shouldn't stay there any longer than necessary -- it's just too dangerous with lots of germies (like MRSA) just waiting to get you!

[roadie gal]

There are different types of MRSA: hospital and community acquired. The hospital acquired is MUCH worse. It's resistant to many more antibiotics. In fact, they have found some that are resistant to vancomycin, which is scary beyond belief.

The community acquired can be treated with more antibiotics, including some of the older, cheaper ones... so far.

Staph is the big news this week, but many, many bugs are becoming resistant to our antibiotics. Unfortunately, there's a lot more money in erectile dysfunction drugs than there is in antibiotics. So there just aren't that many new antibiotics coming down the pipe.

[Brandi]

My dh just found out yesterday that some mrsa infection are being mistaken for bug bites. When we looked at the pitures it looked just like what he had. So maybe he didn't get a black widow bite?

[roadie gal]

It can look like a little blister, or a bug bite. Usually there's some small lesion that allows the infection into the skin, though. So he might have had a bug bite or some small cut.

[ChickWithBrains]

1. You can't tell if it's MRSA or just run of the mill staph that's causing a skin infection, and while it's scary, the majority of skin infections aren't MRSA. This is changing, but so are doctor's prescribing practices when we see it. A single picture alone does no justice to the vast array of infections MRSA can cause. (I've seen many.)

2. Vanco has never been the "only" drug MRSA responds to; however, depending on the infection site it is sometimes the best drug. In areas where MRSA is pretty prevalent as a skin infection bug, clindamycin or bactrim tablets are often first-line treatment for non-hospitalized patients.

3. Bleeding is the best way for wounds to avoid infection, and it's only at and shortly after the time the wound is caused. Scrub that sucker and let it bleed, then dress it appropriately. Antibiotic ointments don't do squat except help the wound heal with better cosmetic results.

4. Most wounds don't get infected. Rates are surprisingly low, even for wounds that need stitches.

5. No good data yet on whether "eradication" techniques for carriers actually improve serious infection rates, morbidity, or mortality. Underlying illness seems to play a much bigger role.

6. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!

[Brandi]

Just to be clear on this the doc my husband saw did a culture on he's infection to make sure it was mrsa. We never assumed it was.

[jusdooit]

Most people don't take enough time to perform this task. Sing a verse of happy birthday to yourself to get the time right. Also remember staph can reside on your towels so change them frequently.
All this talk of MRSA has made me very nervous, as I have 2nd &b 3rd degree burns on my left hand right now. I am way more paranoid than usual.

[emily_in_nc]

I've had MRSA 5 times now over 4 years. You ladies will appreciate this, my second infection started as a saddle sore. OWIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I had to wear a drain in the "area" for a week to help get rid of the infection.

limewave, how did you know your saddle sore was bad enough that it was infected? I have a pretty bad one that's hung around for a long time now, and of course now I'm worried it might be MRSA! I showed it to my doc when I went for my yearly appt. a couple of months ago, and she wasn't that concerned, but it's gotten worse rather than better since then.

Thanks,
Emily

[Brandi]

Oh my gosh! It has come back. My poor dh is in pain! A cyst formed on he's neck. it starting showing signs on monday. He was at the doc's that afternoon. They put him oh meds. Nose swabs and showers. And today when he's lab's came in posative they put him on another antibiotic on top of the other one he is on.
He is so miserable right now. All i can do is feed him. The German in me can't help that.
The infection is right where he's bike helmit strap sits. it is to painful to wear. So he is depressed on top of that cause he can't go for a bike ride!. Send healing vibes our way please. This infection is nasty big time!

[Mr. Bloom]

Oh my gosh! It has come back. My poor dh is in pain!

Yikes!

Hope he's better soon!

[Brandi]

He Seems to be doing better today. He started on another antibiotic last night and I think it has really kicked in. They gave him pain meds and I was able to talk him into taking one last night before he went to bed. I think that helped him. At least he slept through the night this time. He seemed to be really having a hard time sleeping. I am trying to be posative about this situation and keep he's spirits up that it will go away!

[RoadRaven]

Wow, this is kinda scarey
I hadn't even heard of it before...
Is MSRA limited to the States? Or is it world-wide?

As for antibiotics, I can't remember the last time me, or my kids had them... my partner had them earlier this year for an infected tooth/root canal... but before that I don't know when he last had them either.
We avoid them when possible which is most of the time. They are sooooo over-prescribed!

But this MSRA thing is bothering me...

[wannaduacentury]

Spelled it wrong in the title there! I forgot to mention my dh just had a mrsa infection from what started out a black widow bite! It was not fun and bad timing. We were sculpting and in dirty condtions being in the sand so it went from bad to REALLY bad. They put him on to drugs and he had to come in every other day to the Dr office to get he's bandages changed. And we were not home so we had to go to a place we didn't know. Scary! Keep all wounds clean and your hands and at first signs of infection GO TO THE DOCTORS! That is my lesson to you for the day!
Thank you for reading and good night,
B

Hope it heals quickly. I had friend that her spider bite turned into a staph infection and she had to have surgery and it was not in a comfy place either(her bum). It finally healed and she is fine. Many prayers to you and dh. Jenn

[mtbdarby]

Hey all. My ex called last week and told me he had a cyst thing and went in and it was an infection. He got another one and called and had to have it dranined. I jokingly told him to see if he had MRSA. He called today - another one and it is MRSA! Seems his gf is an LPN so he's got the bad strain (but apparantly she's not smart enough to suggest MRSA )

Anyone know if my ds is at risk for getting it from spending time with his dad? Is there a test he could take?

[Zen]

it can be spread through casual contact, and you know kids aren't the greatest hand-washers nor do they have hardy immune systems. I hope you don't have too much of a fight looming. maybe he'll have enough sense to know he has to stay away from Dar junior for a while. Stranger things have happened.