Shay_Harris's Blog

MRSA has been around for a long, long time!
Many, many nursing homes have it, and most hospitals have it, somewhere "lurking" in their facilities. It's EXTREMELY resistant to common antibiotics, "MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus." (Mayo Clinic) It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal. "Vancomycin" is an antibiotic commonly used to treat MRSA. IT is considered one of the "strongest of the strong" antibiotics, and Dr.'s usually don't prescribe it, unless there is a really serious infection, because there aren't MANY stronger than "Vanco." Many health care providers believe MRSA is a result of a "society resistant to antibiotics." So many people rush to the Dr. at the first sniffle, and demand an antibiotic, Dr.'s used to "give in" a lot easier than they do now. Many Dr.'s these days encourage people to "fight it off" themselves, instead of prescribing an antibiotic.

If a person is operated on for MRSA how long before they know if they got it all? How long will you remain in hospital? I have a friend who has it in Gainesville.

Thanks for the info. Will check back.

toetag, no telling! It's extremely difficult to treat once it's started, and it LOVES to spread. What Georgies-Girl said is also true. I worked in the pharmaceutical field for years, then in a nursing home, and now as a HHA. (Home Health Aide) We (in the above mentioned fields are constantly going to seminars and in-services regarding MRSA, because the info on it constantly changes. I hope your friend survives, I don't mean to scare you, but it's very, very serious. The threat to the "general public" isn't like a flu-virus outbreak, which is why the "community" surrounding the high school where the football player died wasn't quarantined. I can't answer why the school lied, other than poor judgement on their part. Years ago, when my Momma was teaching the 3rd Grade at one of the private, Christian schools here in this area, a little girl in her class came "down" with MRSA. As near as Dr.'s could figure, she was bitten by a mosquito on the top of her left foot, she used the toe of her right sandal to scratch it. It got infected, very quickly, she developed a high fever, and the infection spread. By the time they stopped it, and "cured" her, she had to have part of her LEG AMPUTATED! But, she nearly died! It was touch and go for months, this was probably back in '93 or '94, when this happened.

I have MRSA,BOO!..but im healthy..it usually only EFFECTS Unhealthy , Immuno Suppressed. Individuals.its is Prevalent in Most Nursing homes and in hospitals..People need to take extra care when visiting people in Nursing homes and Hospitals WASH THOSE HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
There are A few New Antibiotics out that are treating MRSA pretty good...VRE pretty bad too. but not as "popular".. and then YUK C Diff is the Nasty Smelliest bug out there...all treatable if caught early enough...
But if PEOPLE WOULD STOP RUNNING TO THE DR AND ASKING FOR A ANTIBIOTIC FOR A RUNNY NOSE these bugs would not be out there!!!!!!!!!!!...so thank your Neighbor and your DR!~..

I am so upset right now...my 25 year old daughter went to the doctor 3 weeks ago to have a lump the size of a baseball on her side checked. They drained it, sent it for testing, put her on anti-biotics and let her go....never called her with the results, just waited until she called them...when she called she was told that they couldn't give her the results over the phone, when she did go in later (not being told how serious it was over the phone to go in and get her results) she found out that it was MRSA! She fortunately was given an anti-biotic that did fight it successfully and hopefully it is all out of her system now. However, she has a husband and 2 small children at home that she could have passed it onto in her daily routine! Not to mention the people at work (she is a server) that she could have given it to! She and everyone else that has been diagnosed with this should be informed as soon as the results are in! and over the phone so they be aware of the danger and take better precautions! Does anyone know if MRSA stays in your system without showing the symptoms once the lump has gone down? Should they be taking the anti-biotic afterwards and how long afterwards?

For them to have not called her immediately is medical malpractice IMO. She should contacd CDC and the County Health Dept. and file an official complaint.


very_worried_mom
Oct 16, 2008 | 9:07 AM I am so upset right now...my 25 year old daughter went to the doctor 3 weeks ago to have a lump the size of a baseball on her side checked. They drained it, sent it for testing, put her on anti-biotics and let her go....never called her with the results, just waited until she called them...when she called she was told that they couldn't give her the results over the phone, when she did go in later (not being told how serious it was over the phone to go in and get her results) she found out that it was MRSA! She fortunately was given an anti-biotic that did fight it successfully and hopefully it is all out of her system now. However, she has a husband and 2 small children at home that she could have passed it onto in her daily routine! Not to mention the people at work (she is a server) that she could have given it to! She and everyone else that has been diagnosed with this should be informed as soon as the results are in! and over the phone so they be aware of the danger and take better precautions! Does anyone know if MRSA stays in your system without showing the symptoms once the lump has gone down? Should they be taking the anti-biotic afterwards and how long afterwards?