MRSA
Howard has MRSA. This is the definition from US National Library of Medicine:
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a “staph” germ that does not get better with the first-line antibiotics that usually cure staph infections. When this occurs, the germ is “resistant”to the antibiotic. Most staph germs are spread by skin-to-skin contact (touching). A doctor, nurse, other health care provider, or visitors may have staph germs on their body that can spread to a patient.
Once the staph germ enters the body, it can spread to bones, joints, the blood, or any organ, such as the lungs, heart, or brain.
Serious staph infections are more common in people with a weakened immune system. This includes patients who:
Are in hospitals and long-term care facilities for a long time
Are on kidney dialysis (hemodialysis)
Receive cancer treatment or medicines that weaken their immune system
Inject illegal drugs.
Had surgery in the past year
MRSA infections can also occur in healthy people who have not recently been in the hospital. Most of these MRSA infections are on the skin or less commonly lung infections. People who may be at risk are:
Athletes and other people who may share items such as towels or razors
Children in day-care
Members of the military
People who have gotten tattoos
Fun, huh? We do not know where he contracted it but I do know MRSA is not something to play with. My Dad had it after multiple hospital stays and in his weakened state it took 45 days of IV antibiotics to eradicate it from his system. So right now, Howard is on a several day IV regimen at home. He has a followup tomorrow with an Infectious Disease specialist at the hospital and we'll see from there. This is an infection that could go systemic pretty quickly if it's not checked so I'll be more than happy when it is completely out of his system.
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a “staph” germ that does not get better with the first-line antibiotics that usually cure staph infections. When this occurs, the germ is “resistant”to the antibiotic. Most staph germs are spread by skin-to-skin contact (touching). A doctor, nurse, other health care provider, or visitors may have staph germs on their body that can spread to a patient.
Once the staph germ enters the body, it can spread to bones, joints, the blood, or any organ, such as the lungs, heart, or brain.
Serious staph infections are more common in people with a weakened immune system. This includes patients who:
Are in hospitals and long-term care facilities for a long time
Are on kidney dialysis (hemodialysis)
Receive cancer treatment or medicines that weaken their immune system
Inject illegal drugs.
Had surgery in the past year
MRSA infections can also occur in healthy people who have not recently been in the hospital. Most of these MRSA infections are on the skin or less commonly lung infections. People who may be at risk are:
Athletes and other people who may share items such as towels or razors
Children in day-care
Members of the military
People who have gotten tattoos
Fun, huh? We do not know where he contracted it but I do know MRSA is not something to play with. My Dad had it after multiple hospital stays and in his weakened state it took 45 days of IV antibiotics to eradicate it from his system. So right now, Howard is on a several day IV regimen at home. He has a followup tomorrow with an Infectious Disease specialist at the hospital and we'll see from there. This is an infection that could go systemic pretty quickly if it's not checked so I'll be more than happy when it is completely out of his system.