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Posted 8/19/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.  Have any of you dealt w/ MRSA.  I went to the doctor b/c I had a red, infected area inside my nose.  He cultured it and it came back as being resistant staph.  I have been applying bactroban daily, but it is not working.  He gave me a prescription for Bactrim, but I am too afraid to take it b/c I am borderline anemic (B-12 and folic acid deficient).  When I went to my GI doc last week he didn't say anything about me being anemic so I am thinking I will try the Bactrim.  It also has some pretty bad side effects, esp. if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.  Anyway, any advice or stories would be much appreciated. 

The worst part is that I just worked up enough courage to start Imuran and now this happens.  GI doc says I can't start Imuran until the infection is cleared up.  Darn it.  Now I am even more afraid to take it b/c of the increased risk of infections. I'm sure this staph infection came about b/c of the recent steroid use. 

Thanks!

H.

Posted 8/20/2008 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Please consider the following to be hearsay, based on my own un-professional opinion,

I personally think there is a link between staph and UC.  Now in my opinion the link could be because something is screwing up people's immune systems - en masse and causing both separately. (maybe the same thing is killing bees)

All I know is, other than the MRSA epidemics in the news, I have had folliculitis since I've had UC which I never had before.  I have also noticed what looks like folliculitis on several other adults, both people I know and people I just met on the street, which leads me to wonder if there is something bigger going on in the population.

Sorry if this doesn't add to the topic.

Posted 8/20/2008 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
my3suns, be sure you follow through on your treatment and have cultures done after you finish. Some people with nasal MRSA become carriers - not necessarily sick themselves, but able to infect others.

MRSA is primarily a result of the over-use of antibiotics. As people insisted on antibiotics being prescribed every time they had a cold or any other illness, and doctors caved in and gave it to them, bacteria had more and more exposure to the antibiotics. Too often when people feel better four or five days after starting the abx, they stop taking them. Then the bacteria have had non-lethal exposure and are able to develop defenses against the drugs - much as our bodies develop antibodies to things. That leads to drug-resistant bacteria.

Drug-resistant bacteria have been around for decades, but mostly noted in hospitals or other health care facilities. That's why a lot of doctors started trying not to prescribe antibiotics for every little thing. First they developed resistance to commonly-used antibiotics like amoxicillin and erythromycin, the proceded from there. Methicillin was one of the last-resort drugs. MRSA is resistant to that, leaving only one or two drugs that will work on it.

Good luck to you with your treatment, I hope the bacteria clears quickly for you.
Posted 8/21/2008 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I tested positive for MRSA earlier this year, and was prescribed a new (expensive) antibiotic. I wonder now if the antibiotic might have triggered my latest flare. I read that the probiotics (I take Replete) are a good thing to use after taking an antibiotic to get the good bacteria you have killed back again.

I think I probably had the MRSA for a while, because my skin heals so much faster now! Who know how I got it. I use a home gym...but lots of public toilets!
Posted 8/21/2008 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
what the hell is MRSA ?
Posted 8/21/2008 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

It's a staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

In the news recently as something people have acquired from gyms, or hospitals, or schools. It can be bad if goes untreated.

Posted 8/21/2008 3:52 PM (GMT 0)

Peety - what antibiotic did your doc put you on?  Right now I am applying bactroban twice a day and Sunday I am going to start Bactrim.  I am waiting to starting Bactrim because I have to work all weekend and I don't know how it is going to effect me.  I too think I have had MRSA for a while because I had a cut on my leg that I got in June that took all summer to heal and now it is still red and weird looking.  It doesn't look inflamed or infected, but it scarred in a really weird way.

H.

Posted 8/22/2008 8:22 PM (GMT 0)

my3suns-

Please, please, please take this seriously.  I won't go into extreme detail about my mom's situation, but she worked in a nursing home and contracted MRSA from one of the patients there that was infected.  Hers was in her sinus passages and was told for months she had a chronic sinus infection.  I will spare you the scary details about her struggle, but it can take control, especially with someone who already has their immune system working extra time from UC. 

I have seen the Bactrim prescribed to those who have skin MRSA.  If it does not completely heal it, make sure your doctor knows!  Have them culture it again.  If MRSA is still present, it can "reactivate" itself. 

Please let us know how you do with this.  Good luck-----sometimes it seems like it's always something, doesn't it?

Posted 8/24/2008 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was prescribed Minocycline. I don't think a topical would work on MRSA, because isn't it systemic?
Posted 8/24/2008 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
No, it can be just in the skin or mucous membranes. Your doctor may at some point also prescribe oral antibiotics. In extreme cases, people may have to receive IV antibiotics, but hopefully yours will be taken care of without that.

This DD, sometimes the treatment makes you as sick as the disease.
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