I want to understand exactly what MSRA infection is....as I have a nephew in critical condition and has recently contracted this infection.

Brenda,

I am not a medical professional and my knowledge of MRSA is limited to only the news I come across. To learn more about it, I'd start with http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/Aresist/mrsafaq.htm which says, in part:

"Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Occasionally, staph can cause an infection; staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and most can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria can also cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections and pneumonia). In the past, most serious staph bacteria infections were treated with a certain type of antibiotic related to penicillin. Over the past 50 years, treatment of these infections has become more difficult because staph bacteria have become resistant to various antibiotics, including the commonly used penicillin-related antibiotics (1). These resistant bacteria are called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Staph bacteria can cause different kinds of illness, including skin infections, bone infections, pneumonia, severe life-threatening bloodstream infections, and others. Since MRSA is a staph bacterium, it can cause the same kinds of infection as staph in general; however, MRSA occurs more commonly among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
MRSA infection usually develops in hospitalized patients who are elderly or very sick or who have an open wound (such as a bedsore) or a tube going into their body (such as a urinary catheter or intravenous [IV] catheter). MRSA infections acquired in hospitals and healthcare settings can be severe. In addition, certain factors can put some patients at higher risk for MRSA including prolonged hospital stay, receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, being hospitalized in an intensive care or burn unit, spending time close to other patients with MRSA, having recent surgery, or carrying MRSA in the nose without developing illness (3-6)."

I wish I could be of more help. Best of luck with for your nephew.

I have friend with MRSA, she caught it from her daughter from a staph infection on the skin, how contagious is it, and should we be concerned around small children, she is not in the hospital but is taking a strong, specific antibiotic, and bathing in a medication. Should we avoid her?

my massage therapist was recently hospitalized for several days on iv therapy for a systemic staph infection after a knee injury--he had a large black sore on his cheek, with noticeable swelling on that side of his face--he has been giving my wife and i massages throughout all this--my wife did not know any of this and says it is dangerous for him to be working--so far we are healthy, but--are we at risk--we don't want to have massages until he is well--how long will this be--he thought he was well after his iv treatment but--evidently he was not--Help, please, thanks

Our son will be 3 years old in July. Starting in November he started getting severe ear infections and has been on every kind of antibotic possible. Finally at the end of April, we had tubes put in. That was on Wednesday, by Saturday both ears were draining with blood and infection. He was diagnoised with MRSA,after 3 weeks of drainage. He was hospitalized for a couple of days and sent home with an antibotic, ZYVOX, which still isn't helping. They upped his dose yesterday but he still has alot of drainage. We are at our wits end and running out of options for our little baby. If anyone has any kind of advice or suggestions please email me. I'm not sure what kind of questions to ask doctors and need some help, please!!
Thank you

I had a comment for nancy diaz around her son who had tubes put in his ears and developed staff msra was hospitalized for a few days and then sent home on Zyvox. I have been told for a fact that there is NO WAY to treat staff msra except for IV antibotics!! I developed staff msra and we aren't quite sure where it came from. I know that I had a toenail removed from my big toe over a year ago it never healed right (it had a callus under the nail) One day my daughter gave me a pedicure and about 2 weeks after the pedicure it was all red swollen and infected. We did the normal soak and squeeze and it seemed to be fine. 2 weeks later it was all full of that gross puss again. the doctor cultured it and it turns out it was staff msra. I go on IV antibotics. Well in the meantime I ask her to culture my nose about 5 days after being on the antibotics because I have had a sore in there that hurts and won't heal for several months. (I also had been in the hospital a few months ago having surgery for bladder cancer! Long story short as possible I have staff msra in both places and have been told that the minimum I should be treated is 4 weeks on IV antibotics. I am not clear if it is because I have a metal plate and screws in my neck along with a metal pump for pain in my stomach and they don't want this to go to any of the metal in my body or if this is standard procedure. I do have some knowledge medically and know that you don't treat mrsa staff for only a few days on IV antibotics no matter if you have metal or not. So why was this child only treated for a few days and is still sick? I think he needs more treatment why doesn't the mother go to an infectious disease specialist? My feeling is her child still has untreated staff and has a health care professional that doesn't know what they are doing? What is the standard protocol for staff msra or does it vary with every case?
Nancy Levine, Dana Point, california

I am 7 months pregnant and just found out today that a co-worker has the MSRA staph infection. It is a very small office with only 4 of us so obviously I have been exposed through drinking glasses, toilets,etc. My concern is for my unborn child and the effects.

My son had an accident in April and spent 6+ hours in theatre. He was OK for two weeks in hospital then became infected with MRSA. He was on Vancomycin intravenous for four weeks, came home, back in with another infection and back in again now with a further outbreak. He has two open wounds on his thigh and buttock that are proving difficult to heal up. He has had a further 8 operations washing the wounds out to try and cure it.
There are metal pins and plates in his hip and we are given to understand that the metal does not help. At the same time his elbow was injured and plated but no infection there. The metal is needed to repair the broken bones and joints.
It is rife in hospitals in the UK but is largely unpublised and that any patient undergoing surgery is at serious risk.
What is the answer?
Too little money spent on hospital cleaning?

staph is a serious issue and it requires aggressive treatment. Just ask any sports medicine physician. However, the best approach is to take all steps necessary to KEEP ATHLETES FROM GETTING THE INFECTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Proper treatment of non-porous surfaces with a highly effective disinfectant keeps transfer of infections down.

In the Pasadena Independent School District, they turned to saniVex(tm). It is an EPA approved HIGHLY effective surface treatment (it is not a drug or therapy for the athlete) that broadly kills microbes including staph.

It burst onto the athletic field last year in the sport of wrestling with major programs like #1 Oklahoma State indicating that it had a major impact on keeping athletes in action AND REDUCED THE MEDICAL EXPENSES OF THE PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR BY ~40%.

Contact saniVex Technologies Inc. for more information. www.sanivex.com

My son is a ery multiply hndicapped young man and has had MRSA for about 5 years. It has laid dorment since then. I adopted him 3 years ago not knowing what MRSA was all about. Now I have found out that it has come back to being very active again. Swabs are positive and active in his urine, skin and nasal. He is coming home from the hospital tomorrow and I am a wreck. Ive watched how sick he has been for six weeks and I worry for everyone else. I want him to be safe and everyone else as well. Any advice or support is welcome

I was hospitalized in Janurary of 2003, I had back surgery which I stayed in the hospital 23 days due to complications, which I developed MRSA.Since then I have had a big toe amputated with bone infection, pneumonia 3 times and had a Bronch done which they washed out my lungs but I am also on oxygen 24 hours a day. They are still trying to find out about my lungs. I was a fairly healthy 58 year old and now I am at the point of death. Can anyone offer any suggestions.
Thanks,
Barbara Jones
BarbaraJ12@AOL.COM

I don't think there is a simple answer. I searched the internet for answers when my son was infected. I am no expert but if you are treated with antibiotics it surely kills or diminishes natural immunity to fight infections.
Would not the best thing to do be to try and build up this natural ability to fight infections?
But how?
I did discover a site selling and giving information about a honey that can help. It is only available from New Zealand but it can be dispatched worldwide.
The address of the site is http://www.manukahoney.co.nz
If anyone else has the answer please let us know.
Brian

My husband recently developed a boil under his arm, after about 5 days, of him squeezing it, and trying to lance it himself, he finally went to the doctor and had it lanced, at that time they swabbed it, it came back MRSA. He was treated with rocefin shot, and keflex, His would appears to be closing and healing properly, He does state that is feels fatiqued all the time, other than that, he seems normal. Does he need further treatment? More testing? Is the immediate family at risk from contact of any bodily fluids?

I don't quite understand this infection, does it start out a staff infection then develop to MRSA?

I work in the health care profession, and around MRSA patients, could I have brought it home on my clothes? Please help us understand this.

Further developments with my son. he has been having pain in his leg and more dificulty walking. He was sent back to hospital and has seen another specialist. He had more x rays etc and has now been told that the MRSA has eaten into the bone around the screws holding his hip together and they have come loose. He must remain immobile for 2 months, as far as possible, in the hope that the bone will grow and knit together.
If this does not work he has problems as there is insuficient good bone left in his thigh to insert an artificial hip.
It seems that it is not possible to completely irradicate the MRSA infection no matter what antibiotics he takes although they will help.
We just live in hope that he will eventually get well but have been told it could take up to 2-3 years.

Brian

I never intended this post to be a discussion forum for people affected by the infection, but I'm certainly happy everyone is using it as a means to air their problems and difficulties.

Here's some stuff I pulled from my membership at Medscape.com ( http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/442256 )

"The antimicrobial therapy of S aureus has long been complicated by the ability of this pathogen to become resistant to commonly used antibiotics.[25] Indeed, few microorganisms can equal the ability of this pathogen to acquire resistance. Among the mobile pathogenicity islands described by Dr. Archer are those that carry multiple resistance genes.[4]

When Dr. Levine discussed vancomycin treatment failure, he quickly pointed out that true treatment failure is hard to define.[1] There are, however, a number of reasons that vancomycin treatment may fail. These most recently include vancomycin-resistant strains of S aureus (VRSA), which has been reported at this ICAAC. In addition, vancomycin/glycopeptide-intermediate strains (VISA/GISA), tolerant strains, and heteroresistant strains may result in failure.[26] Finally, poor intrinsic activity of vancomycin and glycopeptides in general as well as poor penetration of these agents into tissues such as lung[27] or CNS and into abscesses[28] and/or vegetations[29] are other factors that may result in failure.

It is clear that initial antimicrobial therapy in patients with S aureus bacteremia should include an antistaphylococcal beta-lactam agent such as nafcillin or ampicillin/sulbactam. If methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) is suspected, vancomycin should be added, not substituted, for the antistaphylococcal beta-lactam agent.[29] Should the isolate prove to be VISA/GISA, the beta-lactam agent and vancomycin should be continued. If the isolate proves to be MRSA, many would continue both agents as well. If vancomycin is used alone, a high area-under-the-inhibitory-cure predicts an improved clinical outcome. Basically, this means that if the MIC is 1, a higher dose of 1.5 g every 12 hours may be needed.

Addition of gentamicin in an in vitro infection model suggest that 2 g of vancomycin per 24 hours plus gentamicin ( once a day or every 12 hours) provides the most rapid rate of kill.[30] Clinical studies are needed to confirm this. Addition of other agents such as cefepime has been studied in the same in vitro infection model and has proven more effective than vancomycin alone, but this also needs to be validated by clinical studies.[31] Finally, this in vitro infection model has been used to evaluate several antimicrobial agents on VRSA.[32] Of currently available agents, quinupristin-dalfopristin was the most active and was more active than linezolid. Hopefully, our future clinical experience with VRSA will be limited."

Registering at http://www.medscape.com/ is easy and free and they have some very in-depth information available, such as a healthcare certification series from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education called "Preventing Health-Care?Associated Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus." Go check it out and do a search for staphylococcus aureus.

I have read all the previous messages posted on this board and I'm still unclear as to exactly what MSRA is. I have recently found out that my brother has developed this infection after a prolonged hospital stay. I am also worried about the risks for people who have been in close contact with it as I have spent the past 2 months visiting him in hospital.

This comment if for Nancy Diaz. I am in the same boat as you right now w/ my son. He is 17 mo old and had his second set of tubes put in a little over a month ago. Right after they were put in his right ear (which was the ear we weren't even having as many problems with) became infected withing the same week after surgery. Our doctor has drained his ear every week since then and has changed ear drops every week with him. They finally last week took a culture of his ear and sent it to a lab. He calls me today and says it shows MSRA. I was not sure exactly what this was and he said he wanted to try an oral antibotic on him for 1 week and if it did not react then to IV's on him. I spoke to my family shortly after speaking to him who are all nurses and they all about came unglued when hearing that. I called him back and said lets just go on w/ the IV part and skip the other. He went into telling me he would have to have the IV treatment for 6 weeks and there are a lot of side effects. He was naming them off but to be honest I was so beside myself at that point when he said 6 weeks I can not recall all the side effects he named off. Anyways after discussing this with him he is now calling my peds doc. to discuss with him and I will find out tomorrow forsure what we will do. I read your comment and thought wow someone going through exact same thing and thought maybe the Lord directed me to this web page to just relate with you as mothers. It is so scary and just like you just about to go crazy with this. We have tried everything and he has been in the office every week for check ups on it and having his ear drained. If anyone can give me some information on the side effects I would be greatful. My son had his first set of tubes at 6mo and did great, so I thought. They still felt he was having too many infections so 10mo later they said ok too many lets take the plastic tubes out and put in the titanium tubes in. Come to find out his little body was rejecting the plastic tubes. I know feel like this all has not helped because now our little baby is dealing w/ such a serious infection from what it sounds like. I will keep your son in my prayers

Amy Devine

Me and my best friend live next door to each other. My 11 yr old came up w/ a spot on her arm that went bad. It was treated w/ oral anti's and I drained it (w/ gloves on). Then my 11 month old got an ant bite on her leg that did the same thing only it had to be cut opened and drained. She was treated w/ anti's as well. Then it spread to my neighbors house, where EVERYONE in the house had had atleast one if not more, and my 11 yr old and 11 month old have had it more than once since then. WE have all taken every precaution possible and it keeps surfacing? Do we all need 6 weeks of IV's anti's to get rid of it? Only 1 person hasn't gotten any and that is my 6 yr old?

Everyone in my house has had the same problems, except me. I use to have staph when I was a child, but mine was never like a bole. In 1983 I was bitten by a brown recluse spider on the back of my right leg and then I contacted staph in the hole on my leg. I had to stay in the hospital for seven days receiving antibiotic shots every six hours until the staph went away. Then the doctors cut a big chunk out of my leg and stapled it back together. The next day I got to go home.In 1989 I was having sinsus problems and had to have polyps removed from my nose. I was told I had staph and was put on antibotics. The doctor said the staph infection was eating away at the bone around my eyes and going up to my brain. He had cleaned all of the infection out of my head and the antibotics cleared up the infection. 1997 my stomach started having small sores. I could push on them and they would drain. Then they would go away. This went on for about a year and now I do not have them anymore. I still get staph in my nose and have to take antibotics. The doctor says my sinsus still look good even though I get staph in my nose.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/s293242.htm

This worked after our "Hell on Earth",3-months and tons of antibiotics that didn't work.
But after 2 years, a
trip to the local "Wal-Mart" reinfected us.

So we're back on it again. Cost? $5.00

DISCLAIMER...I am NOT a Dr. and this is NOT "medical advice"...use at your own risk..Don't make-true the old saying "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"!!

Barbara,
I read of your plight. My wife and I were infected 2 years-ago by my working on a computer in a home where the lady-of-the-house had a horrible cough. She had just returned with her husband from an LA hospital where he was treated for prostate cancer.

After being sick as dogs for months on Cipro and penicillin, Lincocyn shots, etc, we found a web page from Australia that gave us a cure.

This worked for years (without having to treat again), and now a trip to the local Wal-Mart precipitated a reinfection! My wife is healed but I still have some "devils" hanging-on.

I cannot seem to find the website now, but anyway, here's what to do....

1) Get Tea-tree oil and Eucalyptus oil from any local Health Food store...

2) Get a little "lamp ring" that fits over a standard light bulb. These have a channel in them for the oils.

3) Drop 20 or-so drops of each oil in the ring and turn-on the lamp. Stay in the room for several hours breathing the vapors with the door closed. The fumes are pleasant and really knock-Hell out of these Staph devils!

Do this as-much as you feel you need to recover....Spread the word!!

Again..This is not "medical advice"...You get that from a "qualified" Doctor, which I AM NOT...USE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND DISCRETION

Hi,
I am worried about my newphew also, he is 10 and has had tubes so many times we cant even keep up with it, and now antibotics just dont seem to help at all, one visit to the dr his ears are great and the next week, well here we go again, his ears are so bad that his parents cant even get insurance on him, now the dr says he has boils/staph F inside his ears, the dr want's to scrape his ears in Monday. he is on steroids now for the infection and I am afraid he won't be able to hear much longer and what kind of ill efects will the staph infection have on him?

My brother was just diagnosed with a MSRA infection in his ankle. His foot is huge, too big to wear shoes. He also has an open wound on the ankle that won't heal for the last 6 months. The hospital doctor said 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. Will he have to walk and lay around with an IV bag or can he use a heplock on his wrist? Will these antibiotics work? I'm not sure what drugs they are prescribing but they said there was only one drug that could cure MSRA. Does all of this sound normal? TIA

My husband started having what he called "knots" at the base of
his skull and they have moved around to the side and top of his head. We went to the doctor and he diagnosed lympheniditis...he was given an antibiotic but only got worse with high fever and
sweating. We went to the ER and he was diagnosed with staph on his head(he scratched an area on his head and it became open sore). He also works in a hospital.
He was given IV antibiotics in the hospital an hour or so and sent home on oral antibiotic...now he has a "swelling on the side of his head" that seems to move around. If this is symptomatic of staph it seems strange..anyone have any answers or advice?

My husband and I had a wreck Sept.21,2002
A boy hit us head on. My husband had a broken
left femor, a broken right arm, and a crushed
right foot. Went through 3 surgery's then
14 days later a guy from rehab dropped him
and broke his left hip he went 20 days with
a broken hip before they knew it was broke.
He had to have another surgery. He came home
but was in pain he stayed on pain pills. He had rem. arithris and he thought it was that.
All at once he had a place come up on one of the scars on his hip. It got bigger they decided to do a bone scan, he had infection
in the hip and femor.they drained the spot.
He had to have surgery to clean it out and they found infection around all the hard
ware in his hip and leg. He spent 16 days
in the hospital. And now going back to
out patient every day for 32 days for
antibictic's. The doctor don't tell us
anything. He has two open holes in his
leg and hip they clean out everyday and
repack it. Can anyone tell me if there
is an end to this????????

Hello: I was wondering if anyone could tell me how many sports related cases of MSRA there have been in North America in the last year or so?

For MRSA or any other disease or illness. There is a phenomenal new product on the market that every man, woman, and child on the planet should be taking! It's NOT a drug, a vitamin, a mineral, or an herb! It's ALL NATURAL, has no side effects, and is as cheap as a cup of coffee a day to take! It BALANCES your immune system and allows your body to do what it naturally wants to do...heal itself! This is the only product of it's kind IN THE WORLD! Please e-mail me for more information at: IChooseHealth@frontiernet.net

Brenda

Brenda, does it cure cancer, fight athlete's foot, and reverse male pattern baldness??? Your product sounds so dreamy!

I bet it even helps with erectile dysfunction.

*gag*

Ad people.

Drizz, 20 years of research and development and over 133 worldwide patents tell the story. If you want to actually do some research into this product, e-mail me directly,and I will be happy to provide you with the technical website that we send doctors to.

Brenda
IChooseHealth@frontiernet.net

Regardless of whether or not your product works, you are still using his blog as a platform for advertising. Very poor form.

Dear Hiigaran: If you follow your logic, if you came across people who were suffering and asking for help and you knew about something that could possibly help them, you would just look the other way and ignore them. Not, THAT, I would consider very poor form!

Brenda, if you followed his logic, the analogy would be you walking by someone's home, hearing them talking about MRSA, and then entering their home to leave a basket of glittery promotional material in their living room. Without asking for permission to do so.

This discussion is threatening to take the post off topic. I will refer to my comment policy and leave it at that.

"I reserve the right to delete any comment I wish as this is my property you are commenting upon, but I'm pretty laid-back so it isn't likely to happen unless you are some psycho idiot jerk. Oh, and unless you have my permission to promote your good or service, don't waste my resources and encroach on my property. Unsolicited advertisements will result in comment deletion and banning."

Some of these posts sound a lot like Hidradenitis Suppurativa......

And I agree with Drizz ...if the so called cure you peddle is so great than just post the damn link instead of trolling for email addresses.

Anyone interested in learning more about Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) may want to visit my site
http://www.frontiernet.net/~ruthb/index.html
or my HS page at http://www.frontiernet.net/~ruthb/HidradenitisSuppurativa.html

Thanks for the blog!

If an infected person touches something how long does the
virus stay on the object?

My husband had something like a boil on his right wrist which he tried to squeeze .. few days later it looked worse so I told him that he needed to get into a doctors office or go to the emergency room and if he did not i would pick him up and take him. He went, only to be told that he would have to be admitted and stay in the hospital because he needed to have surgery on the spot. They lanced it but got nothing so they went back in and looked more leaving a hole on his wrist the size of a quarter, which I am told that he will have like this for the rest of his life. Today I go to see him and he tells me that he has MRSA and will have to stay in the hospital through the weekend. I cried, having 4 young children and them wanting their father it is hard. My point is, I have boils galore under my arms which that is all they are, and he gotten one on his wrist and had to be hospitalized for it and have 2 surgeries so far. I gotten tested for MRSA and was told that I was just a carrier for the MRSA and that that was all I was and that I most likely given it to him by direct contact. He is now taking an antibotic and depressed like hell wanting to come home and be with us. I do realize that this is not contagious but having 4 young children and him with this huge open wound I prefer not to take my children there because I am afraid as they are daddy's kids that they will touch the open wound and get MRSA or something. I am a bit confused though and wish someone would help me, talk to me atleast like I am human and not a child.

I have been battling with abscesses for 19 yrs. They call it hidradenitis suppurativa. This past 9 months has been real bad with infection in groin area and as of 6 mo ago they started getting in my armpits. The doctor i go to refuses to believe that I.V antibiotics such as genta/vanco will do any good. Im now on Accutane for this and dont feel its working. They refuse to do culture on the pus as well! I findthis an outrage! She tells me, Well, we've tried everything!! Well, i disagree, for one, they havent did any tests to see if im mrsa! Many many yrs ago a gyno did needle aspiration to culture and it came out with s. aureas/klebsiella/e. coli/and others i cant even remember. My own pharmacist said i probably needed iv genta or vanco for this! What do you think? Im so miserable and sick of massive pus infections that dont respond to stuff like z-pac/flagyl/doxy/erithro/ect..

Lavonna...

Two months ago I developed abscesses/boils in my armpits, groin area, etc. The first one I ever had was in my nose. One doc was sure I had HS but I went to another who cultured one of the armpit ones and it came back MRSA. I'm all alone so can't go in for 6 weeks of vancomycin and am allergic to almost all antibiotics. They had put me on Levaquin without testing for two months which was useless. After the holidays, they want me to start Clindamycin which upon testing for sensitivity shows it will work on this MRSA staph almost as good as vanco. Lots of horrific side effects so waiting until after holidays to begin treatment. They also often use Ripafam WITH Clindamycin (it can't be used alone) orally vs vanco if MRSA now. Seems there are lots of huge outbreaks of this skin type MRSA in otherwise healthy people now...didn't used to be. I have the boils in my armpits, nose, groin, elbow and now I THINK one growing on my face which freaks me out. Also one that looks to be starting in my MOUTH! Bought some tree oil to try. I've NEVER had anything like this..until October. Get one of those boils CULTURED for sure!

Husband had spot on elbow looked like a insect bite or an ingrown hair (on an elbow?)... 1 week later the whole arm appeared cellulotic from wrist to mid bicep. ER- admitted- IV Vanc, Zyvox, then Bactrim. Ortho Surgeon opened, drained, cultured and debrieded.discharged after 48 hours..culture grew MRSA.whirlpool treatments X 1.5 weeks....begining to heal..no bone or joint involvement. Then I (while he is healing) present with the same looking spot mid forearm...started on a WED, went to DOC on Mon, said go to ER. ER PA cut and cultured, nothing to drain and gave Bactrim DS bid X 10 no culture results yet. WWWWWhat is going on? Are these sores errupting from within or are they probable spider bites that introduce the Staph aureus into the body? How can this be avoided? We live in Texas...DFW area. We are tired of the ER!

To: Terri. I went to the ER for the huge abscess in my armpit. They did culture on it for anaerobic/aerobic. He put me on cleocen until culture was done. My question is, if i have mrsa will this culture reveal this? Im one of those that has been treated over and over with useless ant's for YEARS without cultures! The doc in the ER couldnt believe they wont do cultures on these abscesses it get!

I am 51 and just got out of the hospital with MRSA. I was put in the hospital because some places on my body leg, underarm and 2 places on my waist one on each side got these soars on them and had to be lanced.I was in hospital for 6 days but no one can tell me how I got these soars or what caused them.

was bitten by brown recluse spider around Dec 20, 2003. Saw doc december 26th with huge (size of orange) abscess on left leg at bite site (never saw spider) and took Bactrim 500mg for 14 days. the bite cleared nicely, like a miracle, but now, 3 weeks later, have group of 4 or more huge abscesses in armpit. Doc gave Keflex but after day 3, the infection is worse and arm is swollen and red to the elbow and armpit is swollen with fluid next to breast. Is this from the spider bite, the bactrim, or one of my many nicks and scratches that I always have, or from shaving, as the doc suggests. I am 37 and never had an abscess before the spider bite. the pain is severe and relentless. have had 2 near fatal internal infections in my lifetime and am frightened. thank you.

my boyfriend was diagnosed with MSRA last year. He was in hospital due to problems with sores on both legs, which he has now lost. But he has been told that the virus may never leave him, and is still in hospital now becasue of it

Hi, I'll appreciate any advice you can muster up.

My mother (age 65) had knee replacement surgery in Sept 2003. Within a week of surgery she had a staph infection and was placed on Vancomyacin and stayed 5 weeks in hospital where she had 4 surgeries to place antibiotic beads in the leg. When she left, supposedly the staph was gone. She very uncomfortable and the question is arrising in the minds of two hemotologists at two hospitals that she still may have staph that's attached to the metal knee replacement yet neither has conclusive evidence. She had 4 blood transfusions during her stay, and her red and white counts are borderline low...and don't seem to want to rise to normal.

We need to know where to go from here but feel we are getting conflicting advice from doctors. Mayo hospital says it's possible there's a staph infection and suggest taking the metal knee replacement out for six months and then place in a new one.
Walter Reed Hosp. surgeon says there's not a staph infection but the hemotologist says there might be on the metal but to her blood counts not rising. Staph isn't showing in her blood because of the antibiotics she's been on for urinary track infections, vaginal infections, ear aches...

Can you offer any advice on where she should go for a definitive answer on whether or not she has a staph infection on the metal, and then what she should do --
She has diabetes and I don't want her to lose her leg.

Should she do some home remedies like Enchonea (sp?) and zinc, or do another full course of Vancomyacin in combination w/ another drug instead of removing the metal knee. She went through so much, we'd hate to see her go through it all again if it can be avoided.

Much thanks for your thoughts.
Vicky

I have a huge absess on my underarm from an ingrown hair that i squeezed. it isn't the first one and i am pretty sure that if i refrained from squeezing it, they would never get as bad as this. What is a home remedy i can use????

I am a 27 year old female from New Mexico. I was currently diagnosed with a staph infection just approximately a week after my knee surgery. I had a reconstruction of my ACL in my left leg that was injured during a skiing accident in March of 2001. I was 6 weeks pregnant at the time and couldn't undergo surgery. I finally decided to do the surgery January of 2004. I was shocked to find out that I had gotten an infection. It was a day surgery that only took a few hours and was released back home. When I came home I was instructed to use a CPM (passive motion) to move my knee, about 10-12 hours a day. I was also told to put a little pressure, by walking on my left side day by day. A few days later I started to not feel so well. I had told my doctor/surgeon that I wasn't feeling right and my leg was still very swollen. A week later the staples and stitches came out and my doctor decided to drain my knee. He drained about 100cc's just to relieve the pressure and thought that would do the trick. It didn't.. He had also sent the fluid for cultures. Suprisingly, later one came back positive. I was in and out of the emergency room and all I was given was the occassional demerol and morphine injections and ice packs, still no progress. A few days later, Jan 29th, my doctor finally decided to admit me to the hospital and was put on a morphine drip, because the pain was so bad and I couldn't even put my foot down on the floor. My doctor told me that I might have gotten infected. I ran fevers constantly and always nauseated. I lost about 30 lbs. in just 1 week. What a way to lose weight. It was a very painful experience for me. I finally went back into surgery on the 30th of January to flush out any bacteria that was in there. That same day I was put on an antibiotic called Vancomyacin. They told me that it was the strongest antibiotic there is that fights infections and that I would have to be on it for about 4-6 weeks. A picc line was inserted two days later and since I've had this picc line in my left arm. In February, mid week I went AMA from the hospital. I was getting tired of staying in the hospital and missed my fiance and my four children. I almost had the picc line removed, but luckily I didn't. They continued my dose on a outpatient basis, but every 12 hours given in over a two hour time through the picc line. It's been really rough lately. My fiance had to quit his job just to take care of me. My knee is getting better little by little and still going to physical therapy. I get several blood tests every week to make sure the Vancomyacin dose is just enough and a C-Reative Protein and Sed Rate to make sure the infection levels are going down. The swelling in my knee is going down little by little. I'm slowly improving in walking and bending my knee. I hope to have my job back sometime in April. Vancomyacin is a very strong antibiotic, it could sometimes get you nauseated and if given at a fast rate, it could hurt your blood vessels and your picc line. You could also get what is called "Redman's Disease" where the skin turns red from the medicine being infused quick or if you have a reaction to the Vancomyacin. I believe it expands the blood vessels. If you are put on this antibiotic, from my experience, it is just best to finish the dose. Especially if it involves getting an infection from surgery involving anywhere near the joint area, you might end up with another infection that causes you to replace the whole joint, or arthiritis, rarely even can cause someone death. My heart and prayers go out to those who are/have suffered with an infection, causing them to be put on this antibiotic. I hope that I have been some type of help or inspiration to someone out there. God Bless!

IN JULY 2003 I CAME DOWN WITH ANOTHER SINUS INFECTION AND HAD THE HORRIBLE SINUS SURGERY FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 10 YEARS. THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE REST. I WAS SENT HOME AND TWO DAYS LATER I WAS UP AND DOWN WITH A HIGH FEVER AND WENT TO THE ER. THEY TOOK BLOOD AND SAID IT WAS A STAPH INFECTION. WELL TWO DAYS AFTER THAT THE DOCTOR WHO DID MY SURGERY CALLED AND SAID HE DID A CULTURE WHILE IN MY NOSE AND SAID IT CAME BACK AS MrsA. HE TREATED ME WITH LEVAQUIN ANTIBIOTICS FOR 14 DAYS. I FELT BETTER FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THEN RELAPSED WITH ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS. WENT BACK AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME THING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, AS OF NOV.2003 TIL NOW, JUST WENT BACK TO DR YESTERDAY, SHE LOOKED IT UP AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HEALTHY FOR MORE THAN 3 WEEKS IN 4 MONTHS. I'VE HAD PNEUMONIA, BRONCHITUS AND SINUS INFECTIONS ALL TOGETHER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER WILL GET BETTER. NOT TO BRING ANYONE DOWN IT'S JUST SO DEPRESSING.

I gave birth to my 2nd child Sept 2002 by c-section and in Oct 2002 I had a small abcess under my arm which I drained and went on without giving it much thought because I thought it was an infected hair folical from shaving. In Nov/Dec 2002 I had 2 more (1 on leg and 1 on neck) which the doctor diagnosed as spider bites and treated with Bactrum. But, another one (on chin) came in Jan 2003 and was cultured MRSA Staph. I was then treated with Bactrum and Rifampin. Another one came in March 2003 (between legs) and the local Infectectious Disease Expert put me on Bactrum and Rifampin for 1 wk, 3 wks off, 1wk on , 3wks off and 1 wk on. I was clear til July when my daughter was hospitalized and the Infectious Disease Expert said that if the sores (both between my legs) are draining lets not worry. Yeah right! Had another sore between my legs in January which was treated with I can not remember the antibiotic - but it ws not cultured. Another one appeared in February 2004 on my chin and was cultured MRSA Staph again. I started bactrum and after 2 days it got better and on the 3rd day it turned and starting swelling more. I was hospitalized, had to be sedated and the sore was drained and packed with antibiotics and I was put on Vancomycin IV for 3 full days and sent home on oral Zyvox for I think 2 wks. I have had 2 more nose cultures and they are still negative for MRSA so far. Hate to scare anyone but after 8 of these huge boils I am scared that I will never eradicate this staph from my body. If you know anything more please let me know. I even contacted an attorney to persue legal action against the hospital and they insisted that it could have been community acquired since no apparant sore was on the c-section cut itself. I think that is FALSE - where did I get this if I never had it before and it is not like I am unclean. Having a newborn my hands are so dry from washing them it is unbelievable. Not to mention that since this started I tossed makeup 5 times, bought new washclothes, new sheets, new comforters, new pillows, rewashed (sanitizing well) all my clothes, wiped/dusted everything with clorox wipes and all clothes that can not be washed in Clorox are washed in "Extra Pine". I smell like a walking disinfectant sometimes. I welcome suggestions or comments as there is not a lot out there on MRSA Staph and how to get rid of it - are the doctors just in the dark. I am worried that I will see it return.

My dad broke his arm before christmas 2003. he had it operated on and had plates and pins put in. he got an infection within 3 days of leaving hospital. They put him back in and had the drip for 1 day and night. They sent him home. By the end of feb they decided the bone hadnt knitted and they needed to re-operate, take the pins and plates out, replacing them with more and mixed a "bottled bone" with scrapings of his bone to hopefully knit the bone back together.

A week later, he had another infection. His doc gave him antibiotics to take at home and 4 days later decided he should be on the drip every 6 hours in hospital.

They say his bone is knitting well now and that as soon as the bone is ready they have to take the pins and stuff out as he has "golden staph" in the metal and it wont heal til they are taken out.

They are going to let him come home and have a home nurse come everyday, I presume to give him the antibiotics.

Will this heal properly or is he likely to be stuck with more and more infections?

My nan dies from this infection about 20 years ago and my mum is freaking out.

please help me???

thanx
jo

have an employee with MSRA, how long would this infection last on items he may have touched and will clorox disinfectant kill the germs that still may be lingering?

My son came home with a "boil" in his armpit. Took him to the er because he was in severe pain. they gave him cephalexin and sent him home. no culture done. About a week later I developed 2 "boils" and my son also got 2 more. We both saw our doctors who did do cultures and was diagnosed with msra. 4 days later , my other son now has a "boil" on his cheek. How did I stop it from spreading? I've been using clorox and lysol to clean, is it sufficient enough or do I need something stronger? We luckily caught this "disease" early and are being treated. We hope and pray this will not be prolonged.

MY COMMENTS COME THROUGH A RECENT MRSA SCARE THAT STARTED IN MY NOSE, AS A PIMPLE AND IN NO TIME WAS SWOLLEN TO MY EYE. I WAS HOSPITALIZED UNDER ISOLATION FOR MANY DAYS. I DON'T YET KNOW WHAT MY OUTCOME WILL BE BUT I DO KNOW THAT GOD IS MY SAVIOR AND IF I AM TO EVER OVERCOME ANYTHING IN MY LIFE IT MUST COME THROUGH HIM. SO AS I LAY THERE FOR ALL THEM DAYS THIS MAY,2004. I PRAYED FOR GOD TO DO WITH ME AS HE WILL? THAT IS WHAT I PLAN TO DO, IS GODS WILL! HE WILL PROVIDE ALL WE NEED....THIS I HAVE TO BELIEVE BECAUSE HE (GOD) SAYS SO....HEY HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME YET.SO I HOPE THAT SOMEONE FINDS SOME COMFORT IN MY THOUGHTS BECAUSE, WHEN I READ YOUR LETTERS, I FELT YOUR PAIN....GOD BLESS US ALL.....HE IS THE ONLY HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU WILL YOU PLEASE PRAY FOR ME?????? I KNOW IT WORKS THROUGH NUMBERS LOVE,DEBI

Can you please send me more information about this outbreak? Many thanks!

My daughter had tubes put in her ears when she was 14 months old. The following month the left ear started draining, after several antibiotics failed, they cultured it and found MRSA. We went to infectious disease at a children's hospital. She went on Zyvox for 21 days. During this time her right ear started draining MRSA. They removed the tubes and we did more Zyvox. Finally, they put in a pic line to administer vacomycin. We did this 3 times a day along with Rifampin orally. She did this for 5 days and just had a pretty bad allergic reaction to the vancomycin. We were blessed to catch it soon enough before it got too bad. They removed the pic line yesterday.
This is a frustrating road to be on. We are now looking for the next step. We see a new doctor tommorrow. Is there any one else who has been here and done this? What do you do from here?

I posted back in April 2004. We found a disinfectant called SaniVex that we used all over our house and in our vehicles to elimate the bacteria. I found it online with search of "SaniVex". I learned of it via research on the net and the use of it by a few school in Texas. Give it a try! I also used lots of lysol and clorox to disinfect everything. We continue using antibacterial soap for showering and all white clothes and sheets are washed in clorox. Things fade some but I figure it is worth the effort. I never want to be so sick again. In addition, my doctor had the entire family take bactrum and we also swabbed our nose with bactrum cream it for a month. Then he cultured my nose for 3 months to make sure I did not have any lingering MRSA. So far I am clear since that last one in February 04.

I just stumbled upon this website after looking for information about this infection. I am 20 years old and was just diagnosed with MRSA this past week. I have had the infection for 26 days but they just now figured out what it was. I was hospitalized and put on Vancomyacin through an IV. Fifteen minutes after it was going through my body I had an allergic reaction. They said that I could no longer have it and put my on Zyvox. I had surgery to drain the absesses because I had more than one and I am at home now and reading all of these storys and they are very discouraging. Has ANYONE had this infection and taken the medicine and had the MRSA lay dormat in their body. I was just wondering. I am scared out of my mind right now and feel so young for something like this to happen. Please do comment. I really need some hope! God Bless.

my husband had triple heart bypass november last year been to theater three times since wires came lose week after opp than wound kept absessing removed two wires ehich may of caused it abseesed again removed all wires absessed again been or vax machine in hospital for three weeks now needs plastic surgery to fill hole or cavity in coos hole in chest wi=ont heal keeps gettind bigger still in hospital waiting yet another op for this he has the s.a. of the mrsa docter tells me anyone advise me what to expect over opp ect any one else had same problem

I had a boil that emerged last year overnight after scratching what I thought was a bug bite on my left calf. It developed cellulitis and was very painful. I finally went to a physician for treatment, thinking it could've been a bite from a brown recluse spider. They gave me a Z-pack for 5 day treatment, and it seemed to heal. Now, a year later, I am sitting on the 6th or 7th boil that has emerged and developed similar cellulitis. I went to my family physician on our health plan, who dismissed it as an ingrown hair. She gave me a five day treatment of Cipro, which has not helped.

I believe both of these are cases of MRSA, as it seems to be epidemic here in the Houston area. I have never had anything like this on my skin before in my life. I am originally from PA, moved here in 1996. Now, this week I developed a fever off an on,I feel achy all over, and my joints are hurting. What is strange, I had a C-Section (first time operation) 2 years ago with my son, and it seemed after that I have had this weird pain off and on in my joints. Family physician thinks it's a touch of arthritis...rx'd Celebrex. Maybe the operation is where it could've entered.

Does anyone know a Dr. in Houston (north side of town) who will take my symptoms seriously and help me get treatment?

SOMEBODY PLEASE ADVISE ME!!!!
I have always been extremely healthy and happy my entire life -(played sports in HS, was HS homecoming queen, softball scholarship to college, just got married 18 mos ago, etc.) and in March of this year I developed a "boil" in my groin area. (I haven't even been to a hospital in years, so I didn't get this from one...) It got huge and painful, and I went to the Doctor and was told it was probably just an infected hair folicle or something. He put me on Avelox by Bayer as an antibiotic and told me to take one per day for 10 days. I did. The boil was already so big that the next day after the visit, it opened up and bled very dark red blood and pus and it was very gross. It drained for about 24 hours and then healed up beautifully. About 2 days after I stopped taking the Avelox, I got another boil. This time on my rectum. (of all of the lovely places to get one!) It also got large, I called the Dr and he gave me 10 more days of the Avelox. That one also opened up, bled and drained, and healed nicely with in 4 or 5 days. After that, I got, yet another one on my buttock. This one was the largest of all and got enormous. I was so frustrated with the doctor's obvious lack of knowledge that I got on the internet and realized that I was dealing with was, without a doubt, Staph. I called my old doctor from North Carolina, (I just moved here to Florida about 4 months ago), and told him my symptoms and what had happened so far. He prescribed me 10 days of Clindamyncin. I took them and that boil opened up and bled the very dark red blood for about 3 days and pussed, and finally closed up. (That one still has a nasty bruise left behind.) I thought maybe that was the end of it, but as soon as I stopped taking the antibiotic, another one started appearing on my rectum. (again!!!) I also noticed another suspicious lump forming on my groin area, (again!!!!) I called a new doctor, and told her everything I have just told you. This was about 2 months ago. She gave me an antibiotic shot in the butt, and told me to come back in a week. The two that I had forming went away, but before I even got back to the doctor, I had a new one forming on my inner left thigh. She gave me another antibiotic shot, and this time prescribed me 20 days of Amoxi/Clav 875-125. 2xday. The one that was forming never opened up, and yet it is a bad bruise. I have finished the 20 day regimin, and still have a new boil that has appeared on my upper right buttock, which has drained a little, and I have a new one on my left buttock and now a knot is forming under my arm. I have done everything I can to get rid of this. Warm baths. Antibacterial Soap. Dressing the wounds. You name it, I have tried it.
I tell you all of this background to tell you this: I AM SO FRUSTRATED OVER THIS STAFF INFECTION, I AM ALMOST READY TO KILL MYSELF!!!
With additional research on the net, I realize this is MRSA, as no antibiotic has gotten rid of this. I don’t have insurance, and I am too broke to go back to the Dr.
I have read everything I can get my hands on about Staph and have come to the conclusion that conventional medicine sucks. Has ANYBODY out there found any ‘wholistic’ or herbal remedies? I have read about tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and colloidal silver. Have these things worked for anyone? If so, would you please write me and let me know exactly what kind and how much to use?
I am so depressed, I don't want to go anywhere or do anything, and I don't even want to walk outside so that I wont have to get sweaty since I am trying so hard to stay clean. My once perfect body is now covered with the brusies left behind from these boils. I just want to feel better. PLEASE. Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Julie (julie5817@yahoo.com)

To Julie:

Hi Julie, I just developed a staph infection myself in the last 2 months. I too am I newly wed who got married in March of 2003, and I'm 22 years old. I too have been EXTREMELY HEALTHY all my life. These are really turning out ugly as I have kleoid scars, so every single one of these things are scarring my body with dark red bumps, so I can identify.

I'm currently on 250mg of Keflex, 4 times a day. It's not doing a thing so far. I've been taking it for a week and have had new bumps develop while taking the pills.

I have asked several people about the Mesosilver (one woman in my office who had one last year, she tried it and it worked to heal them properly w/o bruising and everything) she said it's the only thing that helped her.

Instead of doing anything rash, i.e. killing yourself, try something else! You can get the Mesosilver for 30 bucks, or go to your local drug store and buy the tea/eucalyptus oils and see what happens! You aren't the only one who is going through this right now. I'm about to try the oils treatment and see what happens, as it's way cheaper than the Mesosilver.

Don't give up hope!

On July 12,2004, my sister-in-law laid to rest her only brother, Brad. He had a herniated disc, and severe arthritis. He had gone to the emergency room two or three times in one week, twice by ambulance. He was unable to move, and his mother could not lift him herself. Each time he was treated for arthristis pain, and released. He even went to St. Louis where he was given a shot in the area of his herniated disc. Brad started running a high fever (103+) the same evening that he had ben given the shot in his back. His mother called the doctor, and was told that the shot could not have possibly been the cause for the fever, since it had not had time to work yet. On Saturday the 3rd of July, Brad's, mother took him to the doctors office were she insisted on seeing the doctor on call for that day. She had to argue with the nurse in the office, who told her to take him to the ER. Finally,after seeing the doctor and telling him of her concerns, the doctor agreed to admit him to the hospital. He wasn't improving, so they sent him to Springfield Memorial Hospital on July 5. This was the day that brad turned 55 years of age. His mother saw him twice a day,and said he wasn't doing very well, and that he was in tremendous pain. On Tuesday morning, he was talking and visiting with his cousin for about an hour, then within one hour, his mother received a call saying that he had quit breathing. He had been placed on life support, and in which he never regained consciousnous. The doctor in Springfield told the family, that he was perhaps the sickest person in the hospital. Every part of his body was infected with Staph infection. His kidneys shut down, having to have Dialysis, his heart,lungs and liver were all being ravished by the Staph infection. Brad passed away on Friday July 09, 2004. Brad left behind three children, and one adopted child. The whole family is asking where did he get this, can it spread to the rest of the family? We would like to know. Brad was a thin person, but during the week prior to being placed in the hospital, Brad lost 21 pounds. We too, were wondering if the doctors had tunnel vision and were just treating for pain, not the root cause of it. We are still in non-believe that it is over or is it?

Carolyn,

I am so sorry to hear of your family's loss. It is a rough enough time for your family right now that having to worry about someone else getting staph is quite burdensome. You family may find the most information with an infectious disease doctor. To Rachel and Julie- you are definitely not alone. It has been very frustrating to me- I have never really been sick and never had antibiotics and now feel like an expert on them. I aquired MRSA (methicillan & penicillan resilent staph) after being in the hospital giving birth to my first child 3 months ago. (I think it entered my body because I had a catheter). I ended up with a breast abscess and paranychia (abscess on finger). I have been on different antibiotics and the last one was clindamycin. I thought I was over it but now I been having nosebleeds- and I think it is related. Also my husband got boils on his arm about 3 weeks ago and just a few days ago my baby girl got little pus filled bumps on the back of her head. He was on clindamycin and it appears to be healing okay. The pediatrician now put her on clindamycin this Saturday. Over the course of this whole ordeal I have seen several doctors and they have all been quite incompetent and not very knowledgeable about staph (although they think they are). My husband & I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor later this week to try and get some answers. If I find out anything helpful I will post it. As others have stated it is very important to wash your hands frequently, wash linens frequently and in hot water, and use anitbacterial soap to bathe. Apply peroxide and neosporin to any scrathes, cuts, bites, etc. as soon as you get them to help kill the bacteria. Inspect your skin frequently for any type of boil, red swelling, etc. Also check to see if your notice your lymph nodes swelling or develop a fever (this are signs of your body fighting an infection.)If you get an area that does not improve go to your doctor for them to drain it and insist on a culture. I haven't seen a dermatologist yet but have heard that a really good one can be helpful so you may consider them if you don't see an infectious disease doctor. I wish I could be more helpful but like the rest of you we are trying to figure it out ourselves.

Don't know if my condition of some 50 years ago would be the same, but while serving in Korea, I developed some 52 boils over an 11 month period. Knees, cheeks, rear cheeks, armpits, groin - you name it. At that time all the medics would do was lance the boil when it developed a "head", treat it with a salve to help it drain. The medics always said the same, that it was an ingrown hair problem. As quickly as they started, they stopped. ?????????

Julie,
Reading your post brought me to tears. I felt like you were writing my biography. I am female, almost 22 years old. About 2 months ago, I developed a boil underneath my right butt cheek. I went to the doctor and was given Keflex. It got rid of it pretty well after some NASTY draining. Then, while on a week long Alaskan cruise 3 1/2 weeks ago, I started getting another boil on my right butt cheek. Since I was on a cruise, I couldn't get to a dr. By the time I did, the boil was ENORMOUS and the infection had spread to my right eye (causing a stye), right ear (soreness and blood coming out) as well as the lymphnode in my right groin. I think this is the suspicious lump you spoke of. The dr. said that the infection 'mirrors' itself.....my groin lump was on the same side of my body as the boil was, as well as the eye and ear being on the same side. This time, the dr. gave me Augmentin and lanced the boil. Now, only a few weeks later, I have another boil on my left butt cheek. Now I'm taking Avelox which doesn't come generic. This is all costing me a fortune and I am SO sick of this! My boyfriend just told me he had a boil in his groin area a couple of weeks ago. I called the doc, and he said it could easily be passed back and forth betweens us, so my boyfriend is going to the doctor today and will probably get some antibiotics that way we can try to get rid of this between us.

Does anyone know if there is hope for staph or MRSA? The doc said I had a staph infection, but didn't do a swab, so I guess I can't completely rely on that diagnosis.

Tristina and Julie

The next time you get a boil, please insist a culture be taken. If your doctor refuses to do it then go to another doctor. There is no way for him to know what drug will work to kill the bacteria if he has not taken a culture. You need to know what type of staph it is and what specific antibiotics the staph bacteria you have is susceptible to. Otherwise you could keep getting them because the bacteria is never killed off. Anyone having staph should also get your doctor to prescribe phisohex (an antibacterial liquid soap) and bactroban (an antibacterial cream). You can use the cream on the area. However the most important place you should use the cream is in your nose. If you have staph you may become a carrier (or could have already been one) and it lives in your nose. The infectious disease doctor recommended using bactroban twice a day for 7 days in the nose. He recommended phisohex for 5 days and to use all over you body (external only- avoid eyes, mouth, etc.). You want to make sure you kill the bacteria if it has colonized on your body. I think the doctor can take a swab of your nose to see if you have it there. As I wrote in an earlier posting, wash linens in hot water and frequently. Also, Julie amox/clav is amoxicillan (a penicillan drug) and not effective for MRSA. You also need to insist on a culture for your boils. Anyone having boils, pustules (smaller pimple like) or abscesses (larger and deeper in the skin) should insist on a culture and make sure you get the results. I hate to say it but do not blindly trust your doctor to know what they are doing (unforturnately- I had to go to several before I was finally told the proper treatment). If you doctor seems to be reluctant to take a culture, give you records, or listen to you or take your concerns seriously, etc.- please seek another doctor. Don't keep going to a doctor that leaves you more frustrated, in confusion about what you have and feeling helpless. FYI- I just recently found out about probiotics from my baby's pediatrician. She recommended this to help counteract the side effects of antibiotics. Probiotics are sold in health food stores (like Whole Foods) and are active cultures like you find in yogurt but in a pill. For all the women out there trying to avoid a yeast infection from antibiotic use this may be the way to go. Hope this helps someone.

Thanks so much Lynn.
At my last appointment, my doctor basically let me know that she had pretty much done everything for me that she could come up with and referred me to a doctor at a hospital to try the vancomycin IV antibiotics. I don't have insurance that covers that kind of thing, so I am only looking at that idea as a last resort. I am going to find another Dr and demand cultures and testing. I will get her to prescribe me some of the phisohex and bactroban and see if that will help. It is so nice to hear from someone that has some really good advice. I am also ordering something that is supposed to help strengthen your immune system. Hopefully, with any luck, these things will help me take charge of this 'thing', instead of IT taking charge of me. I am so tired of feeling helpless and hopeless. Many of you have written me after my original posting and your words of encouragement have meant more to me than I can express. (and if I haven't gotten back to you yet, I promise, I will. -my computer time is very limited....) Take care, and God bless.
Julie

Julie...
I would do the Vancomycin if I were you... I too have MRSA and was given Vanc. I unfortunately am allergic to it but I have heard many people who it has helped. The mediciation that helped me [and was recommended by an infectious disease doctor] was Zyvox. It is a new drug but will dramatically help you. I was sick for a long time with these absesses and I finally feel like I am in the clear. I have not had any symptoms in over a month. Also, DO NOT DRINK OR SMOKE on the medicine. It will lower the effectiveness of it. You should do EVERYTHING the doctors tell you to do. It is easier to treat if you get it taken care of in the early stages. Take vitimans. I hope that some of this helps you. I DO feel better as compared to all of these discouraging stories. There is light at the end of the tunnel. :)

Hello, my husband had a sore on his ankle turn into cellulitis very quickly and was hospitalized for four days, during which he got some type of IV antibiotics. The infectious diseases doctor put him on six weeks of vancomycin immediately after this hospitalization. He also went for twice weekly leg wraps because of poor circulation. Since that time, he has had three more instances of boils appearing overnight and becoming extremely infected. We went to the ER for two of them because it was the weekend and we had to get something done very quickly. The other ones were in his armpit and we went to the dermatologist to have them drained. The PA in the dermatologist's office was the most informative person we have talked to yet. She said that the infection (MSRA) dwells in the nose and the rectum. She prescribed Bactrim, and said to put a swab in the nose 2-3 times a week and also to dab a little around the anus at the same time. She said to do this for a month. Also, she said whenever even the tiniest scratch or sore appears, to apply Bactrim religiously. It has been over a year now, and he has had no problem since that time. However, our 19 month old grandson has had two abdominal boils recently, and the second one was cultured and shown to be MSRA. The pediatrician gave us a sheet of instructions which said to swab nose and anus with Bactrim, and also to swim in chlorinated water frequently as well as adding some Clorox to the bath water. He also stated that if one person in the household has MSRA, every person in the household has MSRA. I recommend that anyone with MSRA see an infectious diseases doctor, but also to persist with other doctors until you are satisfied with the results. This goes for any medical problem, not just MSRA. If your doctor does not answer your questions sufficiently, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, just keep going to other doctors, or other health professionals. I have a chronic neurological condition, and am on my 4th neurologist. He is awesome, and helps me in every way possible. It took ten years to find him, but now I am getting the care I deserve. I hope this post helps someone who is looking for answers in regard to MSRA.

Can you help me with some information. I just had gall bladder
surgery and also had to have a biposy done on some very large
knots that are on the outside of my stomach. When the report came back from the biposy the doctor told me that I have what
is called a staph skin infection. He told me that no matter how well you clean, this type of infection is very hard to clear
up. In January pf 2004 I am going in to have surgery and have these knots removed. He put me on medication called Septra DS
that I have to take two times a day. I did not know that a staph
skin infection can ause knots to grow. These knots are very large and have grown together and are very ulgy. I may even have to have skin drafts. The concern that I have an my doctor
has also is if I get an infection. They will give me medicine
to help prevent an infection, but sometimes you can get an infection anyway and if the medicine does not clear it up it can
kill me. Do you have any information of this kind of staph skin infection. Thank you.
Glenda Straley
e-mail: stralsnow@aol.com

I do not have any medical background but have been told that "Olive leaf Extract" helps to heal from staph...may be someting to look into..I was told a lady had it and was better in 2 months....i do not have any clinical or homeopathic knowledge just hear say but maybe it does help....

Thank you all for so much information. I was diagnosed with MRSA yesterday. I had surgery a month ago and believe that I was already carrying the ugly beast. (I work in a nursing & rehab center and we see a lot of it coming from the hospitals - I also had surgery in Brazil and the hospital is rated the 3rd safest in the world for infection) During my 2 week recouperation before I returned home to Texas, I continued to feel weak, feverish in the evenings, etc. My surgical wound began to drain at about 8 days - also, very normal for this type of abdominal surgery. I continued to feel tired, weak, fatiqued, feverish.... you all know the story. Last week I went to my doctor's PA and requested that she culture the drainage, just in case. I received the call yesterday that it was positive for MRSA. She has prescribed Bactrim & Rifampin and is making a referral to a wound care clinic for treatment with a wound vac. Has anyone else experienced this vac treatment? I am anxious.... my husband is a Type I diabetic and if he gets this we will NEVER get him healed. My wound is at the bottom of a 5" incision, but I am very sore (bruised feeling) at the top of this incision (the area where the lower edge of your bra sits) - also this area is warm, hard and hurts to touch. Is it probable that the infection is traveling?? or am I being paranoid?

I had Sinus surgery on 7/1/04 and thing have gone from bad to worse. I have had an infection for 4 months(not including the infections before the surgery). I have been diagnosed with two different types of staph but the current one is MRSA. I have taken Zyvox and currently on Leviquin. My last Leviquin was Saturday and the infection went out of control again on Sunday. My doctor keeps saying I need another 10 days but at this point I an concerned what all this medication is doing to my body. I teach and have a 4yr old child, I fear that I will accidently pass this on to someone. My doctor does not seem concerned about this but after reading the entries, I am scared for m child and students. It is strange but things like this affect so many aspects of your life, my marriage is suffering. My husband wants me to go to another doctor but I am not sure what to do. Where do I turn at this point.......

Cara,

It has been a few months since my baby, husband and myself all had MRSA. You can read earlier postings. I think you have reason to be concerned for your family and students. Your doctor should also be concerned since this can be passed through contact. Part of the reason it passed from me to my family was because several doctors did not take our concerns seriously and give us preventive methods. Please listen to yourself and your husband. You are worried and need to seek someone else- I cannot emphasize this enough. When in doubt go to someone else- don't be worried about appearing paranoid or like you don't trust your doctor. Trust me your health is way more important. A good doctor should also not be offended and want you to feel confident about your treatment. I don't know anything about Zyrox but was on Levaquin for a few days and the infection proceeded to get worse. This doesn't necessarily mean it isn't right for your particular infection. Please make sure any doctor you see gets a culture and goes over the results (lets you have a copy of them) and explains why they are choosing that particular drug. Some drugs are more effective than others and it will depend on your infection. You definitely need to take precautions like frequent washing of hands, linens, etc. you especially need to do this around your child and students. I would also look into a cream (like bactroban) for your nose in addition to the oral meds. But you will want to check with a doctor since you had sinus surgery. I know it is scary but do know for some of us it will be something you get through fine and will soon be an unhappy memory. You just don't often hear of the positive outcomes since we don't always follow up. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Julie and Rachel,

Tea tree and euculyptus will work, but don't purchase them from the drug store, as oils sold at the drug store or health food stores are not Grade A therapuetic, they are usually grade C and lack the healing properties of grade A. YOu are right doctors do not know everything. I have been struggling with a problem on my skin for 3 months and they still do not know what it is SO I am going to use my oils on it, I gave their way every chance and no cigar. Tara

My girlfriend has had MRSA for two weeks. She has had 2 boils cut and drained. She is on a sulfer antibiotic now. It is working.
I am very afraid of getting though!!!!! Is it possible and how can I keep from it?????????

Had surgery to remove a piece of bone and a couple screws put in late August of '04. Perhaps not related, don't know, but foot had started getting better, but is now swelling again and bruised looking.

Maybe two days after surgery, light but angry-looking red strips right at top of each leg (groin area). It was dry, but I thought maybe yeasties, so took some Diflucan. Rash went away. Several weeks later it was back, so went to OB-Gyn, who pronounced it yeasties, gave me Mycolog II cream. A week later back at his office w/pustules covering pubic area AND the red is covering larger area. Doc says it's still yeasties (And he said that part of "it" looked better, but it's not on HIS scrotum!) He told me to keep using the cream and to take Keflex for the folicullitis. Upon me requesting it, he gave me a couple more Diflucan. I looked the cream up on the net and found that "acne-like bumps" are one of the first side effects of it, so stopped using it.

A week after that went to my regular doctor's office and saw a PA who said, and he appered to find it repugnant, that I had jock itch. He gave me a clotrimazole and steroid cream that actually seemed to work, but then I started getting these small pimple-looking bumps here and there from my navel to my knees AND the rash back with a vengeance - just a bright red, no reasied areas, that burns badly - like someone has slapped me A LOT! I'm not sexually active, so puzzled as to how this happened in the area it has, but whatever. PA also told me I'd have to see a dermatologist if the cream didn't work.

Three weeks later still no improvement, only worse...now trying to go further down my leg. Called ALL the dermatologists listed for my insurance carrier and none can see me until January.

Went to my regular doctor this time, running 100 fever and feel just beaten-up, tired, etc. I really like my regular doctor, but he came into the room, and without so much as a precursory glance at my rash, starts writing a perscription for something he says "...will take care of it." At that point I said "Will it take care of it no matter what it is? If it's cellulitis with staph, will it take care of it?" To that he said "Take care of what?" I then pulled out my pages-long list of dermys who couldn't see me until January and the doctor goes and makes a phone call and WHALAH...I have appointment two hours later! Of course, had to pay to have appointment made for me, but at least getting some action.

Dermy seemed puzzled and so did his PA. That made me feel a bit better!!! They cultured one of the pustules and biopsied one of the bumps by cutting it out...should have had them do all of them!!!

On-call doctor called me and left his HOME NUMBER(!) for me to call him ASAP. Turns out it's MRSA. Hmmm...didn't know what that was/is. Do vaguely remember something about it from microbiology... He wrote me a perscription for sulfa that I started last night and said to get in contact with regular dermy on Monday.

No one else in my household has gotten this junk, and I am hopeful they won't as I've been very, very careful since I didn't know what it was/is.

My questions, and I don't see these addressed above: Did anyone else get a flat rash with it? This burns badly - very similar to a sunburn that burns worse when hot water touches it. Sometimes it is bright red and sometimes nearly invisable, but painful either way. If so, what can I do to lessen the pain? Also, after reading above and information on other sites as well, is sulfa the answer? I'd taken two rounds of Keflex with little and temporary improvement. Also, could it be tied in with the surgery? How about blisters I had in my throat a month or so ago that came back as non-strept? Any answers will be appreciated.

I had blisters to pop and all healed but one. Now treating it as venous ulcer with staph. It's painful with bioburden drip. Been to many doctors all diagnosing me with their specialty inclusive of HepC & chronic cirrhosis of liver. Yet, it all started from this sore. Just got out of a 5-day hospital stay. Swelling down but pain is unreal. Allergic to penn. now on cefuroxime pres. by Infectious Specialist. What can be done? I thought the nose bleeds were from liver disease! Had this now for 8 months with no healing, lots of swelling, pain, and levinquine worked until body resisted. Using a steroid topical that also worked on another sore but does cause small bumps that itch mucho. Sore has gotten bigger, deeper with skin around it looking dead. Please help me too!!!

I'm going into an NHS hospital in 3 weeks time for an operation. Very nervous about contracting MRSA, esp after reading the posts here, but am taking defensive action. I have started taking echinacea as it boosts the immune system. I've read that you can't take it continuously for more than 8 weeks, so if anyone decides to take it, please be aware. I will take with me to hospital some antiseptic wipes and a blend of the these essential oils: tea trea, eucalyptus, clove and oregano as they apparently have antiseptic properties. Hopefully I'll be able to avoid catching anything nasty and will be able to return to work as soon as possible. I've also been advised to take my own toilet paper to avoid germs and not to put my bare hand on the toilet handle. It seems hospitals are a germ warzone and I'm going in as prepared as I can be.

I recently went into the hospital because of diarrhea and while there I had a colonoscopy. I received meds by vein and mouth. I got home feeling better. About 2 weeks later, I thought I was having a vaginal yeast infection. Guess what?! Staph. I'm finishing my last 14 day of Septra DS and Monocycline HCL 100mg. I'm still burning in my private area and near rectum. Do I need an infectious disease doctor? I'm really worried. Anybody out there have this problem? I'm afraid to touch or kiss my family. Please help.

I have been suffering from boils off and on for 3 long years. Recently I have them all the time on my legs. My legs are covered in keloid scars. I think i've taken every antibiotic known. My doctors tell me they are bug bites...yeah right. I am an extremely clean person. If there were a bug infestation in my home, i'd certainly be the first to notice.
About 8 months ago my then 14 month old began to get boils in her arm pits. Now she has one by her rectum. Her pediatrician put her on antibiotics and it went away, now its back. I'm taking her back to the pediatrician tomorrow.
I now have a 2 month old and am fearful of passing this MRSA staph to him. None of my doctors I see seem to recognize what is going on.
Why doesn't anyone see the danger and obvious consequence with this? Any advice would be helpful.

I contacted mrsa in the hospital having weight loss surgery; it is present inside of me, which freeks me out!!! I am allergic to most antbiotics--there is one left that can help, but the doctors don't want to give it to me because I may need to use it for future needs etc.I have had my stitch sight opened and drained--and so, the surgeon cleans it out and then closes the area where the surgery scar is located on my midruff area.
Any suggestions?? I am so angry that I got this in the hospital!!! Does anyone have any experince with getting medical compensation???

saylacylic acid aids in healing these infections used topically on sores almost over night aka wart remover i stumbled across this due to being infected along with friends we swear by it a really great product wih a mixture of s. acid sulfer and calamine is called bye bye blemish this works almost immeditely but burns like heck for a second i swear by it

When I was 17, I woke up to find an itchy sort of bump below my eye. This, I thought to be a spider bite. At the time I was living in Biloxi, MS and there are many many insects there if you know what i mean. But, unfortunately despite my trying to drain it because it continued to get bigger and bigger, i realized i need to go to the ER. I was hospitalized at the military hospital because i was married at the time to a man in the service (yes at 17). This was in 2000. The site had to be drained daily and i was on vancamyacin introvenously. they found MRSA in the infected site and feared it might spread to my brain through my eye. This did not happen however and they did not find MRSA in my blood or nose. After 10 days i was released with a pic line where i had to get intravenous meds for about 14 more days. The infection went down and I have not developed MRSA since. HOWEVER I have been plagued on and off by small absesses of staph infection either from pimples or cuts since then. They do not contain MRSA, at least, so far, but are simple staph infections. Mostly I can drain them and do not require a visit to the doctor or antibiotics. However, they are very annoying and unsightly. When they get on my face I freak out because I have to go to college and work and who wants to look like a puss-filled walking zit?

Anyway, I have read that people with sugar disorders, poor circulation, and weakned immune systems in some way are prone to these kinds of infections. I also have Grave's Disease, which happens to be an autoimmune thyroid disorder, and I have a slight blood sugar irregularity which may lead to diabetes later on if I am not careful with my diet. The point is that I notice I do much much better when i avoid sweets and soft drinks which are very high in carbs.

Take vitamins, try to stay healthy and you can try certian herbs like Echinacea and Goldenseal which have been proven to boost the immune system.

I developed little pimples over my chest and back after taking Z Pac. Is this a side effect or some staff infection.

I had a baby by c-section 5 months ago and through the negligence of OR staff not letting the father scrub and put on gloves to cut our babies umbilical cord I developed a serious staph infection. I knew the same day something serious was wrong. The nurses and doctors would not listen. They kept telling me if I got up and moved around the next day after surgery I would start feeling better. I couldn't move. The pain from any motion or cough hurt immensely. It was more than a surgical pain. Anyone with relatives with this pain, especially the young who cannot speak for themselves need to understand the magnitude of pain that is involved with a staph infection. It wasn't until a week and a hundred complaints later, as well as a 20-pound weight gain that my incision bursted open and I was taken back to the hospital that anyone believed me. I was given double antibiotics, double pain medicines, had my incision cut open more to be cleaned and drained. I was so upset at them that I refused to stay in that hospital away from my baby. I was on an IV, but they gave me two antibiotics (Biaxin and Levaquin) to take at home with my home health nurse later that evening. I was also on morphine at first then later percocets and 600 mg ibuprofen. When my home health nurse came to pack the incision with medicated gauze she cleaned the wound by using a syringe filled with half peroxide and half saline solution. This helped tremendously. I had to have this procedure done twice a day for a month. I would like to advise not using this around the eyes or other areas without a doctors okay. I am not sure how that solution would affect those membranes.
Also, when you are taking an antibiotic it is a good idea to eat yogurt because the good culture in yogurt helps out the antibiotic bacteria. It may not be a medical known fact but this does help. Taking vitamins to help the weak immune system helps as well. Vitamin C is good and vitamin supplements.
I hope this helps.
My nephew recently got a staph infection unrelated to myself with boils that busted and became infected and required surgical cleaning. And as we speak my sister who treated her son is on her way to the hospital next to my house for staph in her face which she was diagnosed at a clinic last night with and is having her eye drain excessively, so she will probably be admitted. She tended my nephew and he has been in recovery for 2 weeks. Now she has it and practiced cleaning her hands and wearing gloves. I am meeting her there in just a moment, but wanted to tell you this because we are all in the same boat and need to help one another. I got online to check out staph infection around the eye and near the brain so if anyone has input let me know.

Goodluck and God bless.

We have a 12 year old daughter who had acl reconstruction in Nov. 04. To date she has had 5 additional surgeries to wash out the staph infection that popped up 10 days after surgery. We have had the hardware removed, the acl graph removed, and seen an infectious disease doctor. We have checked her into a children's hospital and they have revealed that the infection is in the bone. To date we have done IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and there have been 5 different antibiotics so far. We go in for another wash out in 2 days and possibly another a few days after that. Our problem is that she has chest pains about 5 to 10 days after the PICC insertions. We have had 2 PICC lines and had to have them pulled out. No one can tell us what is causing the chest pains. We are going on 6 more weeks of iv clindamycin and tryin a nonlatex tubing PICC this time. Has anyone had this problem or heard of this? Please help.

I am a 30 year old white male. I have a large swollen(painful and redness)pocket in my left arm pit. I have never had any problems like this before. This started about 3 months ago. It started as 1 large smollen pocket in my right underarm and 2 in my left underarm. They all went away after about 8-10 days, but my left under arm things are recurring. just one at a time. They get so big(about the last knuckle of your pinky finger big)and potrude like a large pimple until it ruptures and bloody puss comes out. VERY PAINFUL! I can push into the cavity of my under arm around the swollen "pocket" and it goes as deep as I can push into my body. After a hot shower and around the 4th day this thing pops and drains.(smelly infection type puss)Im sorry for being gross but I am really scared. What should I ask my doctor to do for me? Should I go during the "dormant time" or when its ready to rupture? It hurts to let my arm hang at my side. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated....Kameron

I am a 30 year old white male. I have a large swollen(painful and redness)pocket in my left arm pit. I have never had any problems like this before. This started about 3 months ago. It started as 1 large smollen pocket in my right underarm and 2 in my left underarm. They all went away after about 8-10 days, but my left under arm things are recurring. just one at a time. They get so big(about the last knuckle of your pinky finger big)and potrude like a large pimple until it ruptures and bloody puss comes out. VERY PAINFUL! I can push into the cavity of my under arm around the swollen "pocket" and it goes as deep as I can push into my body. After a hot shower and around the 4th day this thing pops and drains.(smelly infection type puss)Im sorry for being gross but I am really scared. What should I ask my doctor to do for me? Should I go during the "dormant time" or when its ready to rupture? It hurts to let my arm hang at my side. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated....Kameron

Hi everybody. I am the same Julie from the July 2004 posting. I am doing pretty well now and would like to share what has helped me with my MRSA staph. (Boils, yeast infections, tiredness, etc.) Since my July 2004 posting, by which time I had taken rounds of Clyndamycin, Avelox, Amoxi/Clav 875-125, all were of little or no help. I moved to a new city in August, 2004 and was blessed to finally find a doctor who was more familiar with MRSA than all of the other doctors I had seen up to that point. She did a nose culture, and a culture of a boil that she lanced and drained for me. (which I HIGHLY recommend for anyone who thinks they have MRSA) It came back positive for MRSA. She prescribed Bactrim DS, which I received as the generic version, SMZ/TMP DS 800-160 mg tablets. I took 2 per day, one in the morning, one in the evening. This was the only antibiotic I had taken up to that point that I didn’t have ANY new boils pop up while I was taking it. I only took it for 30 days the first time. Again, when I got off it, a few days later I had a new couple of boils pop up, this time, one on my buttock, and one right on the end of my nose. (gosh, was that one painful – as well as embarrassing) I went back to the doctor and this time and she gave me 30 days of the Bactrim as well as Bactroban Cream, (Mupirocin Calcium Cream 2%), which is only available through a prescription. I was told to use a q-tip to apply the cream deeply in my nose twice a day to kill the MRSA in my nose. (The nose is where it colonizes or lives) Since I was still having problems with yeast infections, which is common in people taking constant antibiotics, she prescribed me Diflucan, the one dose yeast treatment pill, and she gave me a prescription for Nystatin Cream, which I used twice a day as well. This time, it cleared up my boils, and I got rid of the yeast infection, had no signs of the MRSA, and felt great the entire time I was on the antibiotic. After I got off it, this time I went about 4 weeks without a recurrence. However, I got another boil about 2 weeks before Christmas. I was upset, but still hopeful that this Bactrim could get rid of it. Again, I went back to the Dr, this time she put me on the Bactrim for 60 days, told me to use the Bacroban cream twice a day until the tube was empty, (which I still haven’t used all of it- there’s a lot in a tube.) I also had the yeast again, and took 3 doses of the Diflucan. (One dose a day for three days.) and I also took the Nystatin cream 2 x a day til the rash was gone. This time, I have been off of the antibiotics for about 2 months. I have no signs of the boils, and I feel pretty hopeful they won’t come back. I can’t say they are gone for good, as it is too soon to tell, but I am doing well and hope that what my Dr prescribed for me will help someone else.
This last paragraph is only a couple of my opinions about MRSA after my own experience and research:
I have done A LOT of research and have found that Homeopathic doctors in Europe have used hydrogen peroxide injections and fresh cranberry aloe juice with 8 drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide to help their patients. I find it interesting that straight cranberry juice helps get rid of bladder infections when I get them. Anyway, it is also a good idea to eat LOTS of yogurt (no sugar added) while taking antibiotics to replace the ‘good’ bacteria in your body. From what I understand, antibiotics kill both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ bacteria in your body. We need ‘good’ bacteria for many of the functions of the body. I also noticed that I seemed to develop boils during times when I was highly stressed out. I am somewhat of a ‘high-stress’ person, and I honestly believe that when you have ‘dormant’ MRSA staph in your body, it erupts when you get really stressed out. That is just my opinion. So try to stay as calm as possible and I believe that regular exercise helps with stress. Lastly, I believe sugary foods, candy, cake, sodas, etc. aren’t good for you in regular life, but they are the worst thing for you when you have MRSA. I completely eliminated sodas from my diet (including diet sodas ) about 2 months ago and feel it has made a huge difference in my health and my body’s ability to deal with the staph. It was hard, as I was a ‘soda–aholic’, but I believe it has helped me heal. Drink AT LEAST 10 8 OZ GLASSES OF WATER A DAY INSTEAD. Well, I hope my experience helps someone else, and if so, maybe it was worth it. I will try to keep in touch with this website and let you know if I have any more problems or suggestions. Good luck and feel free to e-mail me if you just want to ‘talk’ to someone who understands what you are going through. God Bless, -Julie Ramsey (julieramsey1969@yahoo.com)

Hi everybody. I am the same Julie from the July 2004 posting. I am doing pretty well now and would like to share what has helped me with my MRSA staph. (Boils, yeast infections, tiredness, etc.) Since my July 2004 posting, by which time I had taken rounds of Clyndamycin, Avelox, Amoxi/Clav 875-125, all were of little or no help. I moved to a new city in August, 2004 and was blessed to finally find a doctor who was more familiar with MRSA than all of the other doctors I had seen up to that point. She did a nose culture, and a culture of a boil that she lanced and drained for me. (which I HIGHLY recommend for anyone who thinks they have MRSA) It came back positive for MRSA. She prescribed Bactrim DS, which I received as the generic version, SMZ/TMP DS 800-160 mg tablets. I took 2 per day, one in the morning, one in the evening. This was the only antibiotic I had taken up to that point that I didn’t have ANY new boils pop up while I was taking it. I only took it for 30 days the first time. Again, when I got off it, a few days later I had a new couple of boils pop up, this time, one on my buttock, and one right on the end of my nose. (gosh, was that one painful – as well as embarrassing) I went back to the doctor and this time and she gave me 30 days of the Bactrim as well as Bactroban Cream, (Mupirocin Calcium Cream 2%), which is only available through a prescription. I was told to use a q-tip to apply the cream deeply in my nose twice a day to kill the MRSA in my nose. (The nose is where it colonizes or lives) Since I was still having problems with yeast infections, which is common in people taking constant antibiotics, she prescribed me Diflucan, the one dose yeast treatment pill, and she gave me a prescription for Nystatin Cream, which I used twice a day as well. This time, it cleared up my boils, and I got rid of the yeast infection, had no signs of the MRSA, and felt great the entire time I was on the antibiotic. After I got off it, this time I went about 4 weeks without a recurrence. However, I got another boil about 2 weeks before Christmas. I was upset, but still hopeful that this Bactrim could get rid of it. Again, I went back to the Dr, this time she put me on the Bactrim for 60 days, told me to use the Bacroban cream twice a day until the tube was empty, (which I still haven’t used all of it- there’s a lot in a tube.) I also had the yeast again, and took 3 doses of the Diflucan. (One dose a day for three days.) and I also took the Nystatin cream 2 x a day til the rash was gone. This time, I have been off of the antibiotics for about 2 months. I have no signs of the boils, and I feel pretty hopeful they won’t come back. I can’t say they are gone for good, as it is too soon to tell, but I am doing well and hope that what my Dr prescribed for me will help someone else.
This last paragraph is only a couple of my opinions about MRSA after my own experience and research:
I have done A LOT of research and have found that Homeopathic doctors in Europe have used hydrogen peroxide injections and fresh cranberry aloe juice with 8 drops of food grade hydrogen peroxide to help their patients. I find it interesting that straight cranberry juice helps get rid of bladder infections when I get them. Anyway, it is also a good idea to eat LOTS of yogurt (no sugar added) while taking antibiotics to replace the ‘good’ bacteria in your body. From what I understand, antibiotics kill both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ bacteria in your body. We need ‘good’ bacteria for many of the functions of the body. I also noticed that I seemed to develop boils during times when I was highly stressed out. I am somewhat of a ‘high-stress’ person, and I honestly believe that when you have ‘dormant’ MRSA staph in your body, it erupts when you get really stressed out. That is just my opinion. So try to stay as calm as possible and I believe that regular exercise helps with stress. Lastly, I believe sugary foods, candy, cake, sodas, etc. aren’t good for you in regular life, but they are the worst thing for you when you have MRSA. I completely eliminated sodas from my diet (including diet sodas ) about 2 months ag