MRSA Resources

29 responses so far ↓

• Brad Kleckner // Nov 21, 2006 at 7:55 am

  Recently happened to me!!! Diagnossed as a spider bite, given general antibiotics, sent home to “get better”. However this did not happen. I kept having a reappearance of the bite and began to wonder how accurate the cultures were. Spent four days in the hopsital fighting off the after affects of MRSA. Question, do you have any pictures of the onset of the skin infections???

• Caroline Bandy // Nov 30, 2006 at 6:33 am

  A very similar thing just happened to my husband. He had what looked like a spider bite on his chin which rapidly turned into a large boil. He was hospitalized for 5 days and treated with vancomycin and unasyn. We don’t have any photos, but at the onset it looked like a pimple.

• Tricia // Dec 16, 2006 at 4:46 pm

  I have been diagnosed with MRSA. my first boil i had was right after i had my son in 1999. i went to my family dr then he didnt know what it was. the dr cut open the boil which was in my arm pit. he drained the infection and put gause in it. a few days later i went back to get it removed. i have been getting them on and off since. right before halloween this year i had one in between my legs in the crease. it got so painful i couldnt walk so i went to the hospital. as soon as the emergency dr came in and looked and me and i told him what was going on he knew what was wrong with me. he told me i had MRSA he has seen it so much in the past year that he has stopped doing cultures to find out what is wrong because it comes up to be the same thing every time. he cut it open drained it put gause in it and the next day i took out the gause. the mergency dr told me to get on supressive antibiodic theropy to control the infections. i now have one in my armpit again. i cant lift up my arm or i would take pictures.

• Kelley // Feb 7, 2007 at 11:30 pm

  I thought I was the only one having these problems just like Tricia has explained. I too have been getting them after the birth of my son but in 2003, he was a c-section, was yours Tricia? Has anyone passed this on to anyone in their family? My husband now has one on his knee. I have been told that stress can make you have a “breakout” I cant handle these infections anymore. I have been getting alot of them lately, I could take pictures if anyone needs them.

• Tricia // Feb 8, 2007 at 1:22 pm

  Kelly no my birth was natural. stress does make me breakout more and my monthly cycle breaks me out also. i get a few a month sometimes they get so infected the pressure of the infection causes brusing. i can except the fact that i have this problem now that i know what is wrong but i really hate the scars after the infection is gone.my underarms are severly scared this is where my main problem area is. i dont know what happened but my skin is not flat anymore it has folds i have to make sure the area stays clean and dry to keep down on the infection coming more then it already does. i think i have passed it on to my daughter i had her 2 years after i started getting infected. now that i know what i have i can now take her to find out if it is the same thing.this site has made me feel so much better about myself knowing im not the only one and knowing there are people willing to talk about it.thank you everyone

• Kelley // Feb 8, 2007 at 1:58 pm

  Thank you so much for commenting back Tricia, this info I found here alone has provided me more than any doctor I have seen, It seems the doctors just dont know what to do for me and make me feel as if it is all in my head, I hate feeling this way. I was wondering if you could tell me how you get tested? I have had my nasal tested but was told it came back negative for MRSA. But have had cultures come back positive of MRSA in my foot from an ingrown toenail I had and couldnt get under control. I too get terrible purple bruises and in the end turn into terrible scars. I have just recently started to get them in my armpit, I have had 3 now, do yours sometimes come up to a hard lump and them go back down but will still have a hard bump under your skin? Im sorry to be so full of questions but am so extremely happy to have found somewhere to finally talk about this infection that has taken over my life. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I greatly appreciate your time.

• Tricia // Feb 8, 2007 at 2:02 pm

  that is my email address i will answer any questions you have mabey we can help each other

• heidi // Mar 9, 2007 at 7:33 pm

  my daughter has had 3 infections in the last few months, and are now going to get the family tested again, a few years back one of the other kids also got the same thing, looked like a bite or a pimple and ended up very infected, and was mrsa positive. My husband ended up being a carrier, they do a nasal smear to test everyone, after he was treated, we didn’t have any problems until now. Maybe someone in your family are carriers??? I am waiting to hear back from the doctor

• Nicole // Mar 20, 2007 at 11:31 am

  I too was diagnosed with MRSA in the hospital I had a boil on my thigh area, Since being diagnosed in December I have had 3 more, and currently have two on my legs. This is so painful. I really hope the do something about this today.

• Jennifer // Mar 30, 2007 at 1:38 pm

  I was diagnosed July 2006 spent all summer with it, doctors were treating it with the wrong atibotic, doxcycline is the only thing that works. But now i get a staph infection on my chin once a month which no doctor knows how to treat it nothing seems to work, they are very painful which turns into like a small boil if anyone has any advice please let me know.

• Mary Burford // Apr 16, 2007 at 10:11 am

  I am doing a research paper on Community Acquired MRSA. Any info. or personal stories would be helpful. Just e-mail me at
  Thanks
  Mary

• MARY // May 8, 2007 at 10:53 am

  i have mrsa right now. im only 18 years old and have been getting them since i was 16. my dad was the carrier and i currently have 2 on my thighs…i dont know what causes my breakouts but i believe shaving might have something to do with it…think about it…the most common places people get them are places they shave…chins,legs, & underarms. this is extremely painful & irritating. i dont even bother going to the hospital anymore…i just leave it alone until the preasurre builds up and drain out the puss myself with a napkin and hot water.

• Amy // May 26, 2007 at 8:34 pm

  Hi Everyone,
  I too have been suffering from MRSA boils. I’ve had six in the last couple of months in various places on my body. The one that I currently have is located on my left buttock and became extremely enlarged in only 3 days. It got to the size of a golf ball! I went and had it drained and she packed it with gauze. I also received an antibiotic injection. I was sent home with a prescription for hydrocodone for the pain (which I definitely needed!) and another for levaquin. She cultured it and I am awaiting the results, but she’s seen so much of these boils lately, that she pretty much knows what it is. One thing that I would like to pass on to all of you, she did say to bath with betadine a couple of times per month as that really helps to kill the bacteria on the surface of the skin. She said to rub it all over the body and then shower as usual with soap. We’ll see if that works. I just had my first betadine shower tonight. Another tip, make sure if you try this to get a lot of the betadine under the finger nails, as the staph really likes to live there.
  I work in the healthcare field, but do not have direct patient contact. I also work out almost daily at the local YMCA, so I’m wondering if I may have picked it up there. I’d like to hear from others if you’ve got any other tips to prevent break outs. Take care all!

• Beth // Jun 7, 2007 at 11:12 am

  My daughter had MRSA alomst two years ago and we have been treating her scars ever since then. We have literally tried everything! Her scars are dark purplish spots all over her arms and legs. I read where others have had one - three boils. She had them everywhere and has at least a 100 scars! She even has some on her face. We visited a dermatologist who offered little help. He felt like they would fade with time. They haven’t. We’ve treid Mederma, onion oil, tea tree oil, skin brighteners, fade creams, hydroquonine, yogurt, treatments for evening skin tone, exfoliators, acids that peel off the surface layer, etc. Nothing is “strong” enough. She is nine years old and approaching the age where looks matter. She is bothered by the hundreeds of dark spots. People often ask what they are. If anyone has any effective ideas for how to treat these MRSA scars, please let me know. I would greatly appreciate the help!

• Jenn // Jun 23, 2007 at 6:13 pm

  I recently found out I have MRSA from a ingrown toenail that was removed. I have Crohn’s Disease so I have a weak immune system anyway. I spent two week on Vancomyicin, two trip to the hospital daily, Then a week on Zyvox, then to the hospital for a stay of a week which ended with a groshong placed in my chest to receive three more weeks of vancomyicin. my doctor left the groshong in my chest to make sure there was no more signs of the MRSA. All was good, I guess, so the tube came out. Two days later the wound from the tube is now infected the results are still out on if it is MRSA. I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that. I sat in my bathtub with a bottle of hibiclens and a scrub brush…. I about scrubbed my skin off before I sat and cried and cried… I am scared and don’t know what to do. I WANT MY LIFE BACK. I won’t go camping anymore with my boys, I won’t go swimming, I am scared to give my kids a hug because I am afraid I am going to give it to them. I won’t even go into life with my husband. I am just scared and need to vent. Thanks for listening.

• Steve // Jun 24, 2007 at 6:19 pm

  Yeah going through the same thing. Last January had what I thought was a spider bite on my left knee…..turned into a boil and got severe redness all over my leg before the infection broke. Went almost a month to the day with no problems then had one show up on my left finger. New how to treat it better and had it break within days. Then got one another month later (to the day) on the left side of my face under my mouth….seemed that one healed quick and nice….but just 2 days ago had one show up on my left ear. Not sure if this means anything but weird how this is only been effecting my left side of the body. Best advise for scarring is don’t let the wound get moisture….found it out the hard way on my finger….gotta big reddish purple spot there. I have been getting immune to the antibiotics so was advised to let this one run its course…but be careful….not sure if that was good advise seeing its right on top of my earlobe…but will keep an eye out. Not sure what this MRSA thing means but been walking around in public noticing alot of people with them….might become an epidemic.

• skookum // Jun 29, 2007 at 10:47 pm

  The following may or may not help:
  Staphaseptic from Albany Oregon.
  Curad bandaids with silver gauze.
  Socks and clothing with silver thread.
  Domeboro soaks.
  Hibiclens
  Hibiclens and Phisohex(prescription).
  Limiting gym attendance until transmission source of MRSA is determined.
  Using hand sanitizers after leaving retail stores.
  Washing all new clothing purchases
  Bagging towels/sheets to segregate from other wash.
  Manuka honey compresses.
  As a society,avoiding fish farmed with antibiotics.

• Rebecca Headrick // Jul 8, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  Hi I recently found out my brother who is in the national guard that he has MRSA and i wanted to know if it is contagious. We live in the same house as his wife and child who have been to see him numerous times while he has been in training. I was wondering if they could catch it and bring it back home to everyone. If anyone knows please let me know. Thanks All.

• Jenn // Jul 8, 2007 at 11:06 pm

  Ha All!!! I’m Back!! It is MRSA again but I finally got some good info. Lysol, Lysol, Lysol!!! you can pour lysol in your load of laundry and always Dry clothes with high heat. also clean with hibiclenz and let it sit on your skin for two minutes before rinsing off. it will continue to kill the bacteria after you rinse off as long as you do this at the end of a shower. also do not shave with a razor. but an electric razor is OK. and don’t forget everyone in the house. they may not have signs of the infection but can be carriers. clean all bedding and everyone needs to take hibiclenz shower aleast twice during a treatment course. I will let you know if it really works. in a few weeks. I guess it can’t hurt and it all makes sense!!! If anyone has questions, maybe I can help or i am open for other ideas too. Thanks

• RD // Jul 12, 2007 at 3:57 pm

  I have been told I proably have MRSA, started looking like spider bites on my back, and then on my hand. This is no one else, not even my husband was getting bit. I am on Bactrim pending the sking culture results. I work in a hospital and have patient contact some of the time. The more research I do I think it may have started on my feet. Just a few weeks after staring to work at the hospital my feet itched so bad when I removed my shoes and took a shower. It itched like crazy and then burned when I was done itching. I guess we will see that the tests state. The ones on my finers look like pimples but when scratched, they dont look like one when opened. Do any of you experinces itching at first?

• RL // Jul 22, 2007 at 9:53 pm

  I have had about 4 wounds appearing as spider bites over the past 3 months. the first 3 went away on their own after I lanced them myself (they were like painful, pressurized boils).
  Last month I got a really bad one on my right calf and ended up in the ER because of the pain and swelling (my mom made me go). I was given IV pain killers and then the area was numbed and lanced. The physician then squeezed the hell out of the area which was insanely painful. The blood that came out looked almost black and the pus was yellow. Wow, this is pretty gross. She packed it with gauze and sent me home with doxycycline prescription and hydrocodone along with Ibuprofen 600. I was unable to walk for 4 days and was pretty much bed bound. THe area on my calf looks to be healing somewhat but is still red and purple, the wound is still open and the underlying skin feels incredibly hardened. I’m wondering if there is more pus inside pockets and this is why there is hardness???
  I am going back to the doctor this week to have it looked at again.

• Alison // Aug 1, 2007 at 10:21 pm

  I have MRSA and I work with a youth group at an after school program. Am I contagious? We do a lot together, eat, swim, sometimes even go camping. Should I stay away with a break out????

• jennifer // Aug 8, 2007 at 2:28 am

  i work in a healthcare setting, and personally dont have MRSA but my 13 tr old son does. he had them so bad on his flank (side) like 6 or 7 abscesses at a time. he was given bactraban ointment that needed to be applied to the inside nostril area as well as bactrium antibiotics. this ointment is important because MRSA colonizes in the nose as weird as it sounds. and it really helps. it is very painful.

• Kellie // Aug 8, 2007 at 1:25 pm

  I am wondering if anyone thinks that a 20 month-old girl that has had recurrent MRSA infections in the past 6 months is indicative of having an underlying illness?

• Bob // Sep 3, 2007 at 4:11 pm

  Found this site by accident and have not heard of the prevalence of mrsa.
  I have emphysema due to 2nd hand smoke and as a result have the equivalant of 1 lung.
  I use a air purifier and a laundry attachment that kills virus and bacteria 99.999%.
  The technology is University tested and is in use in many applications.
  I am a dealer as a result of direct usage of products. They work!
  Their expensive but with my immune system I have taken control of my breathing problems and possible bacterial infections in our home.
  If anyone is interested in this technology email me or leave a # we can talk.
  I wish you all a speedy recovery.
  Bob

• Krystal // Sep 7, 2007 at 7:44 pm

  HIBICLEANS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO USE. I AM ABOUT TO GREADIATE FROM NURSING SCHOOL AND WORK AS A MEDICAL ASST. IN AN URGANT CARE CLINIC WHERE WE SEE ALOT OF MRSA. MY SENIOR PROJECT IS ALSO ON MRSA. I KNOW ALOT ABOUT MRSA AND SUGGEST GETTING HIBICLEANS AND HAVE YOURSELF AND EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD DO THE SAME FOE SEVEN DAYS. THEWN MAKE SURE YOU WASH ALL ITEMS IN CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL MRSA IN HOT WATER WITH SOAP AND GET BACTROBAN (PRESCRIPTION) FROM YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU SUSPECT MRSA. YOU CAN CONFOIRM THIS BY GETTING A CULTURE TAKEN FROM YOUR DOCTOR. HIBCLEANS IS OVE THE COUNTER NO NEED FOR PRESCRIPTION, AS YOUR PHARMACIST FOR HELP. MOST IMPRRTANTLY WASH YOUR HANDS!! AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, I ALWAYS CARRY PURELL OR GENERIC BRAND OF THE SAME. MRSA IS ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY SO BE WARY

• James Pate // Sep 9, 2007 at 3:37 pm

  Please help get this to the people. My sis almost died from MRSA.
  Look for report from Huston Hospital
  Web site up 9/11/07
  Thanks so much
  James Pate

• Maxine // Oct 12, 2007 at 2:32 am

  I am frigntened of this disease, a good friend of mind was infected at her job, which is a helath care enviorment. If the employees get this disease how in the HELL do the patients survive. It seems as though you go to the hospital to get killed instead of getting well. Most of the time if this epidemic is infestating the hospitals the are really keeping it under the down low. Providing extra germ killing cleaner in all areas of the hospitals (elevators, halls, and eating areas), and not informing the patients and their families as to how devestating this would be if you contact this diseasae.

• Mariann // Oct 14, 2007 at 8:16 pm

  It doesn’t sound like most of you are doing enough about it. I only have regular staph and not mrsa but my internist sent me to an infectious disease doctor. The first boil was lanced by a surgeon and then packed with thin packing strips that are coated with Betadine and then bandaged. I had a homehealth nurse come in everyday to repack and bandage. I learned to do it myself and it went on for six weeks before the wound closed. In the hospital I was on antibiotic drips. If the wound isn’t packed it might no heal from the inside out and then you could form pockets which will get infected and it will have to be opened again.

  I thought I was done with it but with stress from a sick husband I came down with another one. This time I am washing daily with Hibaclenz, have a picc line put in and am going daily to outpatient for intravenous drips. Also something I have not read, I am covering the wound and using Ichthammol ( a drawing salve that can be bought from behind the pharmacy counter without prescription) This time the salve drew out the pus and it drained without surgery. Still hoping it is the last one but who knows. With Hibaclenz I have the most germ free skin in town.
  I am looking at door knobs and shopping cart handles quite differently. Where is the next staph germ hiding and waiting to get me?

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