Don't let your doctor put you on another antibiotic unless there is a culture result. It is likely that it could also be MRSA...so if your doctor doesn't think that folliculitis can be MRSA, he's out of the loop.

Hubbys doctor said jock itch was not from mrsa. Pimples not related to mrsa. One doctor even said rash is not related to mrsa. Reading different forums and web sites, I have learned that they ARE related. Otherwise why such coincidences?

Hi there,

Yes, is the short answer. Folliculitis is how I discovered that I have MRSA. I've had three boils from shaving my legs and from the hairs growing back in. I had my folliculitis infection cultured and it was positive. Folliculitis can DEFINITELY be a site for MRSA to manifest itself. In fact, I believe the cause of Folliculitis staph-infected bacteria within the hair follicle. I am seeking alternatives to shaving such as laser hair removal but of course that isn't an option until after I deliever my child. In the fall. So much for enjoying the summer. But I am not risking getting this infection again if I can help it. Also, all of my folliculitis sites have cleared on their own after about a week or so without antibiotics. I have used Muproprin topical, kept it covered and now use Hibiclens antibacterial soap to wash the area. Folliculitis burns like hell and I feel for you as I had it on my thigh too. I could hardly sit down for days. I don't know how I contracted MRSA, whether in the community or maybe a hospital visit. No one thinks it is important to find out either so I'm not pressing the issue. My biggest concern is not spreading it to others. Keep us posted and feel better soon.

Thank you all for your informative replys. I had MRSA related carbuncles last July of 2008, and haven't had a boil since then. However, I have had since that time, a myriad of skin rashes and pimples. I had a nasal swab months ago and it was MRSA-, I realize that you may still retain dormant CA-MRSA, regardless of the nasal swab culture. I hope that my current skin condition is not MRSA+, I am going to start on z-pack antibotics this week. If it is MRSA+, my folliculitis will turn into carbuncles, due to zpac antibotics beging resistent to MRSA. Another fun filled summer ahead. Be well, all of you.

Here is my health update, folliculitis sucks! Seriously, my health has been a bit up and down this week. I began the z-pac antibotics yesterday, which made me feel a bit lethargic and achey. I've been running a low grade fever occasionaly, alternatign between normal to just under 100.0 degrees body temp. Mentaly, I am scared. My wife and I had a few good cries last night over my persistent health issues. In actuality, I felt fairly normal since late last year, wit hthe occasinal pimple that cleared right up. My inner thighs were this bacteria is located feels like mild sunburn. Asprins general assist me, I just pray that my condition does not get worse, before it gets better. I've never had flliculitis before, and I naturaly am leanign towards this condition beign CA-MRSA related. Also noticed jock itch returning to a degree. I cannot fathom going through the rest of my life with this bacteria. Me being a potential health threat everywhere I go. I decided if I amnot seeing any improvements with in the next week, I will request a topical culture and sensativity test on my effected areas. I hope you lot are doing better than I. God bless.

Not sure if I am talking to myself on here, but what the hell, here is my latest health update-PANIC! I discovered what appears to be an early stage boil forming on my lower buttocks this mornign. I am still running low grade fevers, on and off, chills , on and off...I believe the dermwtologist incorecctly presribed the z-pac antibotic for a regular staph infection-I am 90% confidetn that this is CA-MRSA, once again.

Naturaly the dermetologists are not there today. So, I called my infectious disease doctor, her nurse contacted me trying to once again prescribe bactrim, which I am allergic too!!! They don ot even want to test me for MRSA, not even examine my skin rash and potential boil. Just a call, here..we are rderign you bactrim...I had to stopthe nurse in her tracks by statign that I am allergic to bactrim..she got annoed with me, inquirign in to how I took it the last few times, last year..I told her the last time that I took it, I could not finish it..I started breakingout in rashes and hives...so, here I sit, waiting for an alternative med. to be prescribed in leu of batrcim....in the interim, I have been taking z-pac antibotics every other day, do I stopthat...I would assume so, yes...the medical field, in my experience, treats me like a nudge, a pest. This is a serious, even potential life threatnign illness people, wake up...

More people die from mrsa every day than die from the swine flu, yet it seems mrsa is on the back burner. They need to dig deeper and come up with a vaccine or a new antibiotic. None of the existing antibiotics work. My hubby has had mrsa for one year now and I believe I have got it. I had two pimples that left a purple scar. That is an indication they may be mrsa. Also frequent sores in my mouth that I never had before. This is getting awful!!!! What to you readers do about visiting and having company. I am so afraid of giving it to others yet can't shut family from my life. What to do???????

I am sorry to hear that Amy. I wish there was a universal cure for both types of MRSA, but at the present time, there is not. I read about a new radical treatment, where gamma rays are sent intot he skin, safely-it is supposed to kill topical-Ca-MRSA bacteria. Google blue light on MRSA, if interested. I take holistics meds, in addition to synethetic meds....and the damn bacteria still resurfaces, eveb sveeral months later. It is mind boggiling, and simply, scary. HANG TOUGH, we all have to.

My current health status-the folliculitis is gradualy healing, butit is taking a very long time to in fact heal. The daily fevers and chills have subsided. The common suspects of myserterious "pimples" developing and regressign are occuring, as usual n various sections of my anatomy. I am going to a new ID next month, I have had it with my first and last ID. You would call the ID's office, leave a voice message to a nurse, such as their is a boil developing on me..they would phone back hours later telling me to take bactrim, which they know I am allergic too! This occured three times with these folks, sot hey had to go. The irony of it all, they were offended that I dumped them as my Ids!! The new one may be the same as the old one, who knows-they are apart of Cooper Hospital here in S. NJ, the better of the local S NJ IDs. I am concerned that my daughter has a persistent diaper rash, I pray that it is not MRSA.

For the last year, my husband has gone to the doctor when the MRSA acts up. By the time he gets there the boils have had a head start and have to be lanced. Now, since last April, his ID doctor is trying a new approach. He prescribed Zyvox again but only to keep in the medicine cabinet to take when the rash starts and before or just when the boils and pimples look like they are starting. A couple of weeks ago, he woke up with the itchy rash and immediately started the Zyvox. It worked. No boils formed and the pimples and rash went away.

I'm sorry to hear you're getting the run-around. Good on ya for looking up another ID. I can't imagine your anxiety around your baby showing signs of diaper rash. When my daughter was little I was always anxious about her to begin with. Let us know how things turn out! KD

P.S. I think we should start a 'Surliest Nurse' contest on the MRSA support group. I've got one who would amaze you... what gets into these people?!

Isn't it just wonderful when you so sick getting the run around..That is all I have ever seemed to have gotten with this MRSA..

I have had doctors and nurses both look me in the eye and say not to worry about it..But you better believe they wore mask and gloves..

When do you start to worry about it when you die? Too late then...If it was them they wouldn't be so unconcerned..

God Bless you and I pray your child doesnt have it!

Thank you for all the feedback, I am gratefull. My daughter seems ok, the diaper rash has been persistent but easing up little by little, will keep monitoring that situation-to me it does not appear to be MRSA, but a legit diaper rash-it happens, but usualy clears up in ad ay or two, this has been 3 or 4 days at least....but it is def. improvig a bit. I've noticed whebever a person first starts with CA-MRSA, a spider type bite forms, followed by a painfull boil and/or carbuncle. That appears to be the inital introduction of the bacteria into the hosts skin.

I find the general medical community tobe blatantly ignorant towards MRSA and MRSA patients. The medial community seems to be befuddled by MRSA, and it's treatment-the doctor's "save face", by treatign the patient as if we are confused, ignorant, or plain moronic. I hav experienced this anumber of times now, and simply switch to a different dr until I locate the best ID for me. The docot's inability to trust the patient and run MRSA cultures is just perplexing, if not simply frustratign and alamrming respectively. And more oftenthan not, the cure is worse than the cause!!!

Atibotics side effects have kicked my ass, just laid me out flat wi hthe bactrim until I became allergic to it. Amy, when your husband takes this $$$ zyvox, does he take full doses ten days at least worth at atime? Does he have side effcts from this med? I heard that the IV PICC lines with vancoynm (SIC), can be so dreadfull with side effects that the hosital frequently induces medical comas sothe patient can tolerate the meds!!! MRSA is deadly serious, and we are treated as lab rats by those in charge.

I know we have young children in common and worrying about infecting them is like having another full time job. I don't get the pimples/rashes/irritations vs. the boils and abcesses. What is causing the pimples - MRSA? Then why do some sites become boils and some just minor skin irritations that don't leave any scars? I already have two ugly purply scars on my legs from the boils and I am trying like hell not to get any more. I don't know how to prevent it other then not shaving. None of the doctors I have been to, including specialists from Johns Hopkins, seem to be concerned. I would think I was seriously certifiable if it wasn't for the support of the people in this group.

gglaw. Hubbys first dose of Zyvox, with active boils, was 14 days. The second dose 3 months later when boils were active was 10 days. Now the ID doctor said just to take for 5 days before, or just when, boils first develop. My hubby has no side effects from Zyvox. Well, other than jock itch and a craving for sweets. On some of the other meds like Bactrim and Doxycycin, he would get diarhea (sp) None of his doctors would try vanco because it is so wicked on the kidneys and can cause deafness. I think also partly because he is 73 yrs. old. I am just guessing though