MRSA (staph infections) Warning Signs and Preventive Measures 4-13-11
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Staph Infection Warning Signs and Preventive Measures by Tara Parker -Pope in the NYT
The bacterial infection surfacing in schools and other settings around the country is called methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. It is primarily a skin infection, often resembling a pimple, boil or spider bite at its onset. But it quickly worsens into an abscess or pus filled blister or sore and can become serious if it enters the bloodstream.
Experts say that patients who have sores that will not heal or that are filled with pus should see a doctor and ask to be tested for staph infection. They should not squeeze the sore or try to drain it--that can spread the infection.
The vast majority of MRSA cases happen in hospital settings, but 10 percent to 15 percent occur among otherwise healthy people, often those who are prone to cuts and scrapes like children and athletes. MRSA typically spreads by skin-to-skin contact, crowded conditions and the sharing of contaminated personal items (such as razors).
Groups who seem to be at increased risk include those who have regular contact with health care workers, those who have recently taken antibiotics lkie fluoroquinolones or cephalosporin, military recruits, prisoners and men who have sex with men.
Experts advise parents to remind children and teenageers that personal items like brushes, combs, razors towels, makeup and cell phones whould not be shared. And extra vigilance should be used in health clubs and gyms--staph grows rapidly in warm, moist environments.
The necessary precautions should be explained to student athletes, particularly those in contact sports who often suffer cuts and spend time in locker rooms. Gym equipment should be wiped down. Scrapes and sores should be kept clean and bandaged--minor cuts and scrapes are the way MRSA takes hold.
Experts also note that the misuse or overuse of antibiotics allows bacteria to evolve and develop resistance to drugs. Antibiotics should be taken only when necessary, they advise, and patients should take the full course of pills prescribed.
Veterans Administration Program Produces Dramatic Reductions in Staph (MRSA) Infections in 153 Hospitals
The Veterans Administration has shorn that hospitals can make large cuts in staph infections by using a "bundle of measures" that includes (1) screening all patients with nasal swabs and isolating those who test positive for MRSA; (2) requiring that staff treating those paitents wear gloves and gowns and take other contact precautions; (3) take other contact precautions; and (4) encouraging rigorous hand washing. The VA's 32-month program in 153 hospitals resulted in a 62 percent drop in MRSA infections in intensive care units and a 45 percent drop in other hospital wards. A NY Times article describing the VA study is linked below.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a physician, and nothing on this page should be considered to be medical advice. Consult a physician if you think you may have staph/MRSA.
4-13-11NYTimes--Veterans Administration Hospitals Program Reduces Staph Infections Dramatically
- Study Finds Drop in Deadly V.A. Hospital Infections - NYTimes.com
An effort to reduce the spread of infections is showing good results and may have broad implications nationwide.
MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) Infections
- MRSA Infection Pictures, Treatment, Symptoms, Prognosis, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Transmission by
Learn MRSA infection causes (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus superbug), symptoms, treatment and transmission by MRSA carrier.
12-15-10NYTimes--- MRSA--Scientists Follow the Staph Trail
- Scientists Follow the Staph Trail
Scientists finally found out why the most deadly bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus attacks primarily humans and not animals. And they now have an idea of why some humans are more susceptible to these deadly bacteria that kill 100,000/year, more...
MRSA Warning Signs and Preventive Measures by Tara Parker Pope NY Times10-27-07
Mayo Clinic.com on MRSA
- MRSA infection - MayoClinic.com
MRSA infection — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes and treatment of this virulent staph infection.
Super Bug
Strep or Staph Infection
Staph Infection, cellulitis
Systemic Staph Infection
Staph/impetigo
MRSA Rash
If you're not scared yet, this one will do it!!!
2-27-10 NYTimes--Gram Negative Infections Worse than MRSA?
- Gram Negative Infections Worse than MRSA?
The germ is one of a category of bacteria that by some estimates are already killing tens of thousands of hospital patients each year. While the organisms do not receive as much attention as MRSA some specialists say they could be a bigger threat.
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Thanks for the comment. I experienced a bad staph infection in my ankle a couple of years ago. It swelled up to nearly double it's normal size very quickly before I got it treated. At the time it started I didn't realize what or how serious it was. It started from a skin abrasion on my ankle bone from the top of one of my boat shoes that I was wearing without socks. From a simple abrasion to staph in a few days. Nothing to fool around with.
I have two nephews (in their 20s at the time) who used to like to run around outside while barefooted. I used to cringe when I saw them doing that because people don't realize how dangerous that is. The combination of an open cut and the (always) dirty ground can be lethal. There's a current threat of staph infections in the New York-Connecticut area at this very moment.
I got MRSA 10 years ago from a surgeon whom after doing a c section on me found that he left some instruments inside so he opened me back up with the same dirty equipment. My incision busted open several times and my doc did nothing. I finally had to go to my primary doc who after finding out it was in fact MRSA sent me to Vandy Infectious Disease. They started me on Vancomycin which didn't help and subsequently had to do a Debreement which hurt like hell. They said they got it all but further tests found that it had already made it to my blood stream. Infectious Disease said that it could lie dorment in my body for years but guess what, it's back. I shamelessly spent 10 days in jail for contempt last month and while I was there it returned. This time just above my c section incision. I'm pretty scared. I have no insurance and the docs don't want to lay a hand on me.
Signed,
Scared Sh*tless
You need attention. Maybe if you go to a hospital emergency room you can get treatment. Good luck.
Blech! didn't expect pics. Anyway are you a doc or health care professional?
Love the tiger!
No. I am not a doctor or health care provider. Thanks for your comment.
I have a friend who was told last year he had MRSA . I tried to tell this was nothing to play with He lied to me. And said that it was eczma now its in his blood. He works on cars and stated that his customers don't want to shake his hands. I.m a nurse I have tried to talk to him but I don't get through to him.
Debi
Your're right, nothing to play around with. It's quite communicable and not easy to treat.
hi ive been gettin boil like bumps on my butt cheeks ans i can bust them sometimes but they just keep coming back is this merca or something i should be worried about?
I'm not a doctor, but you may want to have a doctor give you a check up.
I have a lot of timy bumps on my inner thighs. About once a month or so it's like I have a "break-out" in that area. Those bumps turn into boils and sometimes grow the size of a lemon being very tender. If I pop one it drains this bloody and pus mixer. Its so nasty. Is this a sign of MRSA? I have had this happening for about 5 years and it just keeps getting worse. I also get them around my waist line and on my buttocks sometime. I have had some on my stomach before that after they drained, they had a hole in them.
I'm not qualified to offer an opinion. Recommend you see a dermatologist.
I aquiered MRSA and it started out as like they say a pimple or spider bite. I popped it and then it started to get really bad. I have no health insuranse so I went to a public hospital where they treat low income people. They gave me antibiotics but stressed that it is resistant and suggested to wash hands often and not to pop what may look like a pimple or spider bite. If you have what may be MRSA you really really must take immidiate action. Bad news you cant ever get rid of it. Good news it is treatable if you take quick action.
Symptoms- spider bite/ pimple looking soar
spreads and may cause pain
fever might set in(it did for me)
what looked like a pimple or spider bite now looks like a volcano (red and has a hole where the head of the infection is) although i have heard it may look dif. according to what kind of staph you have.
Take care of it immediately.
Hello,
I just wanted to throw some information out there to everyone interested about MRSA since I had the infection 3 times at the age 22 and currently on my 4th time having it. When they say everyone mistakes MRSA as a spider bite, there right. When I first had MRSA I thought it was a spider bite, but then the pain increased and drainage started to happen. I was scared as hell!!! So I then went to the ER and they did a culture on me which hurt like no tomorrow because they actually had to squeeze out drainage from the wound. IT HURTS!!! So they then put me on an antibiotic called "Bactrim". It wasn’t working because I believe Bactrim is resistant to MRSA. I can’t remember to clearly. So again I went to the ER because of the pain. They finally told me to see a surgeon and have it cut out, because the infection was not going away. Now this all happened in 3 months. Today, yet again I am infected with MRSA. I am on antibiotics and waiting to see what happens. It is soooo frustrating because I have no idea why I am infected again with this. I shower 2 times a day because I work in a Doctors office, I am a very clean person, and I just don’t get why this is happening again. I was told it doesn’t matter how clean you are, you will still get infected. If you have any opened wounds such as, cuts, scratches, or anything of the sort, you can get infected. This is how MRSA enters your body. Scary, I know! If anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I know just about everything when it comes to MRSA because I had it several times. Have a great day =)
~Megan~
Megan, (and Dave) Thanks for your comment. MRSA is nothing to fool around with. Scary.
Ralph,
I just had a question for you. Is it true what Dave says, You cant ever get rid of MRSA?
I'm not a doctor and therefore am not qualified to answer your question. However, that doesn't sound right to me although it may be true in some cases. Several years ago I had a staph infection in my ankle which swelled up to nearly twice it's normal size. I had it treated and haven't had any problems since then. The doctor didn't tell me that it was likely to recur.
Oh alright. Well thank you anyway
Just an FYI - Yesterday my son was diagnosed with MRSA. What started out as a staff infection in his ankle and Impetigo on his face, ballooned into MRSA after a 10 day cycle of CEPHALEXIN . He is now being treated with CLINDAMYCIN X 10 days. We are also taking nightly bleach baths. 1/4 cup house hold bleach to 3/4 full tub of warm water. It has helped immensely in the immediate clearing of the skin. Our pediatrician recommends nightly baths (15 minutes) in the bleach solution during break outs in our school district. He likens it to a swimming pool. In hind sight, it makes perfect sense. We never have skin issues in the summer as we spend pretty much everyday in the pool. It is safe to take bleach baths nightly. Until we are back in the pool full time, that is our plan to keep the over use of antibiotics at bay!!!
Thanks for your informative comment. I hope your son recovers completely very soon.
It's so bad that schools will send kids home if they have any visible sores, requiring a doctor's note to prove it's not MRSA.
The VA now swabs your nostrils when you come into the hospital and when you leave to show whether you had it before or got it in the hospital -- should it show up.
Thanks for your comment. I actually wasn't aware how prevalent it's getting to be.
Hi I have things like boils on my body the fill up with pus they are very sore just before they burst the turn black and they leave holes behind on my body is this MSRA
Caroline, I'm not a doctor. What you describe doesn't sound good. I suggest you see a doctor without delay.
i just got a spider bite looking mark on my leg its got a reddish ring and my brother has staph could i have it even though i havent made contact with him??
Sounds to me like it's possible. (But I'm not a doctor.)
my husband has a little redish mark on his butt cheek its almost like a little rash about as little as a pencile eraser i was wondering could this be staph infection r just a little rash that will go away.
I am not a doctor and therefore not in a position to provide an answer to your question other than it would be prudent to watch the spot and perhaps apply some Neo-Sporin. If it gets bigger or doesn't go away it would be worth having a doctor look at it.
Acineobacter--A New Threat to Hospital Patients
The gram negative germ is one of a category of bacteria that by some estimates are already killing tens of thousands of hospital patients each year. While the organisms do not receive as much attention as the one known as MRSA — for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — some infectious-disease specialists say they could emerge as a bigger threat.
My husband had an injury to his finger 1 year ago (top 1/3 degloved by machinery) The company Doctor let him return to work before the injury had healed, consequently, 3 days later he was out of work again, this time with MRSA. That was February 14, 2009. Since then he has had a MRSA outbreak every 7-9 weeks. Most recently, last month, he had it in his left ring finger, they had to cut his wedding band off, he was hospitalized for a week on IV antibiotics and surgery to remove the infection (he has metal plates and screws in that hand) Now, finally, an infectious disease Doctor has confirmed that they are all related (and he's not picking up new bacteria, as his employer suggested) Which means he WILL get paid through Worker's Compensation. The ID Doctor also informed us that this could keep reoccuring for the rest of his life or he may not have another infection, there's no way to tell. Anyway, anyone who is suffering with this very painful and frustrating infection, I feel for you. It is painful, frustrating, ugly and scary. Good Luck to All!
Sally, thanks for your comment. I wish your husband well in his battle with MRSA.
Well at the time being I have staph on my chin. Very painfu. I work at a nursing home and that's where I picked it up from. Been to the ER two times and they put me on strong antibiotics. Is it very swollen red and SORE... try to avoid getting it cuz it is very painful n u would wish you were dead....my doc told me that I have to pull the scab off n squeeze all that pus and boy I tell you
I have MRSA in a open surgery wound, on the right side of the right foot, they treated me with bactrim, and my heal on that side is still very red and swollen, and noone seems to care, and I have insurance, and yes it hurts like heal and on top of it, I have a wound vac attached to me, because of the open hole, and have no idea what to do
I'm not qualified to advise you on medical matters. Perhaps you should get a second opinion. MRSA is serious and not to be trifled with. Take care. Good luck.
well 9 days ago I was told I now have a heavy case of MRSA, I was sent to Infectious Diease Dr, and now I have to get IV antibiotics every single day, also they did a MRI of my ankle on Friday and is waiting for them to tell me whether it is in the bone, I sure hope not, this whole mess is scary
Crystal, thanks for sharing your situation with us. I wish you a speedy and complete recovery!
well I am now on IV Antibiotics, for at least 6 more weeks, for the MRSA, thank goodness, I don't have to be in the hospital, they do it at the infectious diease doctors office, which takes about 30 mins. they have me on cubison, they are going to put a port in so I can have it done at home, so hopefully this will kill that dum mean MRSA. I can only hope
Thanks again. Keep us posted on your progress. We all wish you well.
Well the infectious diease dr. told me my cultures came back with no MRSA, so yesterday was the last day of the cubicin infusion, I have been on it since the 17th of September, they even took the pick out, also my foot is finally healing, and the cast has been off now for a week, tomarrow, I go back to the wound center and hopefully my foot is doing and healing good.
Thanks for sharing your experience with readers. I hope you have a speedy and complete recovery.
NY Times 12-15-10 Scientists have finally found an answer to one of the great mysteries about the most deadly bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus — why it attacks primarily humans and not animals. And they now have an idea of why some humans are particularly susceptible to these bacteria that kill 100,000 Americans a year, far more than any other microbe. More here:
hey there I just had a breadt reduction and lyposuction on upper and lower stomach, ps finally after not knowing why my right side was red and 4 times the size, sent me ti infec C Dr.. he pin pointed it right awasy.. infection comming out of belly button, said that lypo 8 cm deep was more than like how recieved.. 42 days or more now on antibio, 2nd week infusion.. what is the diff between this and srep ? .. is your sugion liable for this , or is it a fluke of all hospital procedures .. thanks, and dont wish on anyone.. 560 a week out of pocket as insur only will cover the infus 80 % . thanks
Thanks for your comment. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer so I'm not able to offer you advice. Best of luck for a complete recovery.
A Veterans Administration program produces dramatic reductions in staph infections in 153 hospitals.
The Veterans Affairs strategy employs a “bundle” of measures that include screening all patients with nasal swabs, isolating those who test positive for MRSA, requiring that staff treating those patients wear gloves and gowns and take other contact precautions and encouraging rigorous hand washing. The results may not be easily replicated in the private sector, but they are likely to step up pressure by further undercutting the notion, prevalent at many hospitals not long ago, that infections are an unavoidable cost of doing business.
i went for a test, d med lab says i hav moderate staph. I use to hav worm like mvt in my stomach n wkness. I wasnt satisfyd as i was suprysd on hw i cld'v bn infected, so i went to another lab n did culture, he says i hav moderate staph. Bt i dnt hav all these signs dat pple're mentioning, lyk eczema stuf, pimples wit sore etc. Bt i do xperinc smtyms wkness on my joints.ther was a tym i had pimple on my both nipples which dried up. Is it a dif kinda staph
if you have MRSA or a staph infection can u leae the country?
Sorry, I don't know the answer. (I'm not aware of any regulation that would prevent someone with a staph infection from leaving the country. I suspect it might be more likely that a problem, if any, might arise when entering another country.)
My son is not even 5 months until Feb16,2012 and he has a staph infection and the doctor's said its not getting soft so they said that means if it's not getting soft by tomorrow there not going to drain it. they will just send him home is that safe for to send him home and if they do are they going to give me meds for it and how long witll it take for it to go away it hurts his so bad and his fever is keep going up and down i'm so worried? There not giving me answer just a run around.
Sorry, but I'm not a doctor, and am not able to offer advice. You could get a second opinion.
I got mrsa about a year ago on my right foot on top of my big toe,and it was the most painfull thing i have every went threw. And i have a pretty hi tolearence for pain. But when the sergeons had to opperate on me it left me with a hug hole on the top of my toe. So so painfull when they had to take the dressing off! I had a pick in in my chest for a little over a month and a half. thats were the antibiotaics went. Worst time off my life!
Thanks for sharing your tough experience. MRSA is nothing to fool around with.
my mothers icu nurse told me to look this up. my mothers leg has been a battle since 6 months ago. im normally medically smart but about 4 weeks ago my mothers leg was turning black and she was appeared to be getting diabetic ulsers on her leg. but they were appearing as big blisters that would bust. i decided to call lifeline and tell them to bring a nurse asap to look at her leg. well she said it was ulsers and she didnt have enough blood supply to her leg. but to me there was something else wrong. after two leg surgeryz over a 3 week period her leg has went down hill. its now pure black and not only does she have mrsa she also has gangrene. please be praying and please please wash your hands and take care of yourselfs. this stuff is fetal. when i go see my mom i have to wear masks and gloves and a gown. i hate having to do that. bec i just want to hold her :( please pray. and please dont foul around if you think you might have it. go to a doctor asap.
Thanks for sharing your mother's battle with MRSA. I hope and pray for her recovery.
I don't know if I have this but I haven't been able to sit or lay on my back. I'm not sexually active..my doc got me doing an xray and an MRI. She's not helping. I only got codeine and inflammatory pills. I got two bumps by the butt line right by the tail bone and one above it..even to touch it I yell...I knw your not a dr but do you think it can be this? Pls help
Staph infections are nothing to fool around with. Perhaps you should get a second opinion.
I believe I have MRSA. I had about a month am a half ago on my leg and I think it back on my elbow. Unless its a super bad infected ingrown hair because I did pluck out a big black hair a few days ago. It is black and hurts like hell up to my shoulder. I haven't seen the doctor yet.
I just wanted to let everyone know about my bout with MRSA... Last year ..2011... around late February- early March, I had a normal sized pimple develop on my knee, I thought nothing of it so I popped it. BIG MISTAKE! Once that bacteria flowed onto my glove free hands, I unknowingly spread it to other areas, not realizing it was MRSA of course. A few days later, I started developing other bumps which were painful and growing in size. I seen my doctor, who said it was nothing to be concerned about, and he didn't even do a culture even though it was oozing. I insisted it was a staph infection, so to accommodate my paranoia he prescribed some antibiotics. I was frustrated that he didn't know what it was or didn't care to do a culture, so I went to another doctor a couple of days later. He did a culture but it took forever for the results and by the time it came back the infection cleared up. Anyway, they told me the culture grew nothing. So, I thought "okay good!" About a month later another set of bumps came, not in the same place but on my inner thigh. Same thing, painful, swollen, red, pus filled, itchy bumps. I decided since the doctor said it was nothing I wasn't going back to the doctor just yet. So a couple more months go by and I keep getting these bumps in close proximity to the same place every time they would pop up. I finally went to see my family doctor again and tell him they are still recurring and I need to know what's going on... He doesn't do a culture again, and sends me home with the same meds as before and no reassurance as to why this is going on. That was in early August, 2011. That same week, I finally decide that my doctor is an idiot, because he just acts like one. So, I make an appointment with a nurse practitioner at a different clinic. She doesn't do a culture either, even though once again I am oozing. She tells me I have a skin disease called Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I googled it and the symptoms sound and look like what I've been experiencing. So, I decide I have my answer and try to accept that I have this debilitating disease. The last week of October I finally had enough of that crap, and just could not deal with the pain and I just knew there was more going on than what she was telling me. I went to the ER, and I had an INTERN tell me first thing, before he even looked at the huge golf ball sized abccess it was 99% likely going to be MRSA. Four days later and two more trips to the emergency room I finally had my answer. It came back as MRSA. NOW here comes the fun of getting rid of this... I washed my hands after and before I touched ANYTHING and ANYONE, and when I went out of the house I wore vinyl gloves. Pay attention to everything you touch especially if you can't wear gloves... doorknobs, car handles, buttons on electronics, keyboard on the computer, phone buttons, remote controls, etc... I sanitized everything by using Lysol disinfecting wipes on any surface I came in contact with. I showered twice daily for a two weeks, and switched from bar soap to shower gel I used Dial and also picked up some hospital grade antibacterial shower gel at CVS pharmacy called Hibaclens. I also stopped buying expensive five blade razors, and switched to doubled bladed and threw them away as soon as I was done using it, Do not use it again, throw it out they are only $1!!! Also NEVER use the same towel, as soon as it dries your body, wash it, and carry all of your soiled clothing to the washing machine with gloves so you don't contaminate yourself again. Wash your sheets and blankets at least four times a week. If you can, wash your sheets and change them daily. Very important! Use separate baskets for dirty clothes and clean clothes, don't use the same basket that you carried dirty/soiled clothing to the washing machine, to collect clean laundry. Make a schedule of times when you are supposed to take your antibiotics and stick to it! I was on Bactrim DS and Keflex 500 mg. I really hope anyone suffering with this illness can use these tips to get rid of MRSA because I know the pain and humiliation associated with it! Good Luck!
Tamra, thanks very much for telling us about your issues with MRSA and providing some excellent advice.
So I still haven't seen the doctor yet. It doesn't hurt that bad anymore. Just pussing a lot. Have been doing heat compresses and spraying it with antiseptic wash and covering it with a band aid. What does it mean when its pussing a lot?
I don't know the answer to your question. Sounds to me like it's time to see a doctor who specializes in contagious skin diseases.
I had wat i thought to be a spiderbite on my arm. in a couple days it spread and got very painful, i went to the doctor and he said its Mrsa. Mrsa is what killed my grandpa. they prescribed me Bactrim does this antibiotic really work??
Thanks for your question. I don't know the answer. I'm a writer, not a doctor. Good luck.
I had impetigo as a kid—this scares the hell out of me and I'm allergic to penicillin! Thanks Ralph.
Me, too. Tnx for the comment. MRSA is scary. The most likely place to get it is apparently in a hospital.
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William F. Torpey Level 2 Commenter 4 years ago
Well done. A fellow VFW member who was a victim of this infection has been urging us to wash our hands frequently. Your hub is a worthwhile public service.