SorryMelissa,

I didn't see this till I had already

sent you an e-mail. I don't know

anything about them but I'm sure

someone does. Hang in there.

Sludge

Melissa,

     MRSA is a type of Staph infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics, but there are just plain Staph infections which are serious, but can be treated like any other infection.  A Staph infection is treated with antibiotics just like any other infection, some Staph now has become resistant to certain antibiotics like MRSA (Methacylin Resistant Staph Ar....) I will spell it wrong if I don't look it up.  It is still treatable with antibiotics, it just is only treated with very strong antibiotics, ie Vancomyacin, or Bactrim.  Either way it sounds like they know what it is, I'm sure they cultured it and this will tell them what type of antibiotics will treat the problem.  It is highly contagious, your mom should wash the sheets, the towels anything that may have come into contact with his infection, and preferrably add a little bleach to the wash.  It sounds like they know exactly what it is, and your dad should be fine as long as he follows the doctors instructions.

Michele

Melissa,

     When you say IV antibiotics it makes me think they are using Vancomyacin, which is one of the drugs used to treat MRSA, but 2-5 days of treatment does not sound long enough for MRSA, in my experience with MRSA I was treated from 14-27 days, but part of that could be my immune problems with Lupus.  Maybe they are hoping to clear things up a good deal and then send him home with Bactrim which is taken in pill form.  There are a lot of antibiotics that can be given by IV though, so I am speculating.  I hope that helps some.  I'm sorry to hear about your dad and will pray for a speedy recovery for him.

Michele

Thanks Michele, it is MRSA.  They don't know what to do at this point re: surgery and need to re-evaluate in the AM after a couple rounds of the Vancomycin are given (2 h ours of it, then 12 off etc).  He's never had MRSA before and doesn't know how he contracted it.  He may have surgery tomorrow to clean the area out (LARGE area, spread from under his knee to his calf), but I won't know until the AM.  OTC meds aren't/didn't work.  Weren't strong enough to stop the spreading.  HIs doctors worked fast though....he saw his primary doctor on Monday, specialist Tues and today when they immediately admitted him--right after i posted this he was already registered and admitted to the hospital and in his room.  Need gown and gloves to be in the room, and wash hands before and after leaving the room every time.  I did ichat with him from the hospital and he is in good spirits, a little pale, but overall himself, and bored out of his mind already lol.  Maybe he will be in longer than 5 days, but it will depend if the infection is gone becasue the OTCs don't work, and they dont want it to come back.   Thanks again for your input.

Melissa.

Hey Melissa,

     The Vancomyacin will do it, along with wound care.  Just make sure your mom cleans everything he may have touched, if it was open at all when he was home.  If he touched it and then the bathroom counter, that can be contaminated, bathtub/shower, towels, sheets, pillowcase, washcloths, dishes, etc.  The MRSA virus can live on a dry surface for up to 14 days.  Just be sure everything is wiped down with bleach.  He could have gotten it from a shopping cart, the gym, a pool, any public place really, or a hospital type setting, really anywhere in this day and age.  Depending on what antibiotics they gave him at home, if they didn't realize it was MRSA they wouldn't have worked.  No OTC (over the counter) medicaines would have worked, but Bactrim DS (stands for Double Strength) is an oral (pill) medication that will work for MRSA if you aren't allergic to it, also some MRSA responds to Clindimyocin, I took that for my MRSA it is a pill for 9 months before the MRSA got smart and it didn't work either.  Tell him to hang in there, it's no fun, but it's not a death sentence when properly identified and treated.  It sounds like he's in good hands.  I'll be happy to answer any questions you or your parents have or to help in any way I can.

Michele

Michele,

My mom asked his doctor if she needed to clean and sanitize the house and they said no because she had been living with him and should be fine (those were almost exact words, they don't really make sense, but that was what she was told, which was no, so she is leaving things as they are).  There was no open wound at the house.  still isn't I don't think, just the redness is spreading until today I think.  Can MRSA spontaneously occur?  Because there weren't any places he went that the kids and my mom went when they were watching the kids.  Everyone but him is fine.  But as of now, it sounds like by the time he is out of the hospital he will be cleared of it.  I guess time will tell.  Thank you very much for answering questions and giving me info about it.

Melissa.

Melissa,

     If the wound was not open when he was at home, then your mom should be ok.  But the advice the doctor gave sounds very naive.  When I got MRSA the first time, we didn't know how I got it either, it can enter through a hair follicle, or what not, mine first showed up inside my earlobe?!?  I can't say how that happened either.  My husband and my two younger daughters lived with me when the infection was found, and all 3 of them got it!  My husband got a tennisball size cyst full of it under his arm, my youngest daughter got it on her little tush, and my middle daughter got it in her nose and then on her chin, and then a year later by her nose again.  Once I knew what it was, and how very contagious it is, now I wipe down everything I touch, I don't touch anything in the kitchen, we don't share towels, I can't even use the same razor blade twice, which gets very expensive.  In my case it reoccurs due to my poor immune system, if they fully treat your father, he should be fine, my husband and my youngest daughter have never had a reoccurance.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  A mother on the forums about MRSA talked about her 2 year old having MRSA, the doctors didn't tell her it was contagious and they didn't fully treat the problem, now her daughter has recurrent infection.  There are many people on this site unfortunately that have many problems thanks to bad advice from doctors or improper treatment, be sure when he comes home that the drainage is treated as hazerdous and all surfaces and fabrics he comes into contact with are thoroughly washed, preferrably with bleach and I'm sure everyone will be fine.

Michele

My dad does not need surgery :-)   I'll see him later today and see how he is coming along.

Melissa.

I saw my dad today and he looks a lot better than yesterday.  The area that is affected was LARGE and just, enough said on this one.  No open wounds though.  He did tell me he had the smallest scratch under his knee and it was fine until he had gotten home from the trip he had gone on.  Then it started to itch a little....so that part I just learned.  It didn't just appear; there was a very slight scratch smaller than a paper cut.   But boy did it spread --WOW -- now the area is less swollen and the size of the area of the red/purpleness is larger than the diameter of a baseball (much smaller than before the Vancomycin.  He is expected to be in the hospital a few more days until the infectious disease doctor tells him he can go home.  And he will be leaving on oral antibiotics.  Thank you to everyone for comments and concerns. 

Melissa.

Hi Melissa-

Not sure if you saw my response to the other staph infection case, but if not, I would suggest your father keep Hibiclens on hand at home.  You/he can find it at the pharmacy in a tealish-blue bottle.  You may have to ask for it since sometimes they keep it behind the counter for some reason.  I had a rash of 7 staph infections on my thighs about two years ago.  After my doctor told me about this stuff, I have washed with it about 1x/week in the shower - my entire body.  Luckily, I have not had any more infections.  I wish this stuff was more common knowledge among the general public since it seems MRSA has become so common.  It's really been a miracle for me and I hope others can benefit from it too.  

Good luck to your father!

Sarah

bjnes, Thank you for the suggestion.  He's going to be given bactroban I think, with oral meds upon discharge, wash twice a week with the bactroban (wash meaning put it all over his skin then  washing it off after it soaks in a little).  They haven't mentioned the stuff you've mentioned but knowing him he will go with facts the doctors say, and if they suggest it he will use it, if not he'll go on their advice.  That is just him though.  I'll let  him know about the stuff you mentioned though.  Thank you!

Melissa.

My dad is soing GREAT!  And is expected home tonight around 5 or 6 PM.  He wasn't supposed to come home this early but is doing so well that they are letting him go!

Melissa.

Meliss, I didn't know you were going through this.  I am so sorry.  how are you?  I know it can add to your stress when a family member is sick.  It's great that he is coming home.  I am sure your mom can't wait.  Let us know if you need anything. Prayers are flowing!  Hugs, Bobbie