MRSA Support Group
Staph infections are infections caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus. They include skin infections, pneumonia, blood poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, and food poisoning. Infection can happen through contact, especially if you have open wounds. Most infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you have been infected with staph, join the group for support and advice.
My boyfriend has had an abscess on his calf for 6 days and was diagnosed with MRSA 4 days ago. Its significantly better after going to the ER every other day and getting shot up with antibiotics and taking oral antibiotics 2x a day the whole time and ongoing. Now his foot is very swollen, not red, but we are nervous it may turn into another infection. Everyone I am talking to has something different to say about it. The dr's somewhat blow it off since they see so much of it, but everything I am reading on-line from what people live with once they get it seems like its something take serious. Like even when the infection is gone, that you have to be more careful so that it doesn't come back. Just wanted to get as much info as I can since stuff like this means nothing to you until you or someone you care about is dealing with it.
On the other hand, it can be a sudden severe skin infection that takes up residence under the skin and continues to re-emerge every few months or weeks, for years on end. If it is the variant picked up at the hospital, it can be dangerous simply because it enters at surgical sites or in the bones, lungs, whatever, not the skin. The skin is supposed to be a barrier which safeguards the internal organs, so it makes sense that if the bacteria's entry point is already beyond the skin barrier, it is more of a problem.
MRSA goes dormant when attacked by antibiotics, so the success of the medication is really a crap shoot, if the infection is small enough and the circulatory system (carrying the meds) can reach the infection site easily enough over the span of time it is in the body, the bacteria succumbs. If only the outer-most bacteria in the cluster get killed, however, the infection can re-emerge later having gained enough information to develop resistance to the meds. Then, stronger meds are needed. Possibly the same thing happens next time. Also, MRSA has evolved to take advantage of the inflammatory response of the human immune system. It systematically draws in and cripples the cells which cause inflammation, thereby derailing the body's immune response. (That's why the infections hurt so much.) The body is then unable to create antibodies to the bacteria, so it cannot learn to defend itself.
In our family, I think we had a number of (ordinary?) staph infections in the last few years that did respond to meds (usually infected insect bites and such) without our ever being told what we had or whether it was an issue. We thought nothing of it. Then, last year, our teenager had a terrible boil on his elbow 'out of the blue', and we have been dealing with recurrences for a year.
The unknown variable in all of this is whether heredity plays a part (susceptibility to staph runs in families), whether allergies, bad diet, antibiotics in our food and meat, chemical exposure, etc. etc. creates more opportunities for MRSA by weakening our immune systems over time.
Thank you for your advice and information. It sounds like a case by case thing and we just have to be aware and educated. I appreciated it!
I am sure his doctor's office told him the basics on getting rid of as much bacteria at home, at work and places like the car, to keep from accidentally re-infecting himself or you? Clean surfaces, common areas like kitchen counters, fridge handle etc. with wipes or bleach, separate and wash clothes in hot water, don't forget keyboard, desk at work, seat belt etc. in car.
Once you've done the basics you don't have to get crazy, but sensible is best. Also Hibiclens or other good wash for skin for the first weeks, etc.
For your boyfriend, whether he is still on meds or not, it's a good idea to begin rebuilding his immune system with probiotics (get the best you can afford, I would not just rely on yogurt - get supplements) plus a visit to the health food store would be good - extra vitamin C is good, ask advice on other supplements and topical treatments that would be useful to have around. A mainstream doctor is not going to be able to advise you on diet, etc. but just know that all of this is useful and important. If you skip this step and just keep doing antibiotics without rebuilding the good bio-load in the body, you can end up with damaged skin and lots of secondary problems like candida, eczema, hives, other annoying chronic conditions.
The more healthy your boyfriend gets, the better shape he'll be in if he happens to have a recurrence.