Researchers have been looking for specific risk factors for CA-MRSA, meaning that they are looking at lifestyle, locations and any activities that have been done by CA-MRSA patients that could be the basis for their infections. They have found none.
“What this means”, says Dr. Miller, “is that the average Joe or Jane can get CA-MRSA. A person doesn’t have to be special to get CA-MRSA. So a physician who thinks their patient with a skin infection is unlikely to have CA-MRSA because they haven’t been to jail or use illicit drugs is apt to be wrong over half of the time.” [source]
I cannot tell you how many times, and by how many nurses and doctors, I was asked “was I SURE” that Marshall was not an IV drug user and never had been. And I was absolutely positive that he had not. Marshall’s risk factor was that he had untreated diabetes. In fact, many of the people that I have run into over the course of my intimate knowledge of MRSA have been diabetic. However, this is not the case with CA-MRSA. So many young healthy people get this terrible MRSA. Athletes – healthy kids. I hope they will keep looking, because there is something that is making these kids get this infection. Hold your babies close and if you have the slightest inkling they need to see a doctor, get them there.
Awareness, CA MRSA, Education, MRSA, MRSA in the U.S., Research and Development
7 responses so far ↓
Cheryl // Feb 11, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I have not been hospitalized, am not an IV drug user, and do not have diabetes. In 1995, I had a ‘spider’ bite that required I & D under general anesthesia, In 2004, I had an abcess within my nostril that made my entire face swell. I was treated for a sinus infection. 18 months ago, I had a painless axillary abcess
which required an outpatient I & D. In December, I had terrible sinus headaches and a cough cold virus. I have been feeling extremely run down. In January, I returned to the doctor complaining of fatigue, sinus pain and headaches and a cough that was keeping me awake at night. I showed where i’d had impetigo like breakouts beneath my nose and on my neck. He said my sinus were only a bit congested and perscribed a cough medicine. A week later, I was still coughing and blowing green mucus and had a painful blister and swelling in my nostril. Over the phone, the doc suggested I had HSV-1 (though I’ve never had a cold sore) and told me to pick up over the counter Abreva and put it in my nostrils. (Abreva website says DO NOT put it in your nostrils). Last week, i found 5 red pimples under my arm with one spot abcessing. I am pretty tolerant of aches and pains, but this was unreal. I asked for a new doctor who diagnosed a sinus infection and possible C-MRSA. The next day, i had I & D. Another boil grown in size and will probably need to be cut open. The culture was taken last Wednesday but I am still waiting to hear the verdict. I do feel better since the sinus infection and cough and headaches are gone buthave been obsessively reading all I can about C-MSRA and worrying I guess I’ll know finally by the end of the week.
Christina // Feb 12, 2007 at 12:48 am
Hi Cheryl, thanks so much for sharing your experiences – this is so helpful for others going through this. It sounds to me like you have found a dictor that is going to be able to help you out – I sure hope so. I think finding the right doctor when it comes to MRSA is half the battle. Good luck to you and keep us posted on how you are doing. We will surely keep you in our prayers!
Cheryl // Feb 12, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Follow up… The labwork finally came in. I don’t have MRSA but am colonized with Staph a. Funny how the doctor almost seemed disappointed. Not me though– I’m doing the happy dance! Apparently the infectious disease research MD feels I’m “an interesting case” because I’m part of a rather select group that has recurring staph infections. I sure appreciate this website. I’ve learned a lot about staph and MRSA in particular and will make a few changes to my home and classroom habits now that I understand just how vulnerable all of us are. This is something every public worker (teacher, medical, dental) should be informed about and do their best to prevent.
Christina // Feb 12, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Oh I am doing the happy dance with you! Thanks so much for the compliment, thats why I am here. I hope that it helps some folks to keep up with whats going on and to hear me rehash our experiences over and over. Again, thanks for sharing your story too, I don’t think there can be enough people doing that – it helps other people so much – this is such an unknown and scary bacteria. Congratulations, and keep taking care of yourself – plain ol Staph aureus is plenty dangerous.
MRSA Notes » MRSA and MSSA // Feb 12, 2007 at 9:07 pm
[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. [...]
Amanda // Sep 29, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I have been diagnoised with CA-MRSA and have been getting extreme headaches from it. Help?
Chris // Aug 4, 2011 at 3:07 am
I was diagnosed almost three years ago with mrsa when my face swelled and I had an absessed the size of a soft ball. I was at the ER three times over the case of a week. The fist time I was diagnosed with cellulitus. It took two more times for them to call it mrsa.
Over the course of these couple of years I have had seven confirmed cases and at least ten more unconfirmed cases of mrsa. In the beginning they allways treated me with keflex and Bactrum which once confirmed they would take me off the keflex. I have done everything to prevent it. including bleach baths. Both my daughters have had it once over a year ago. My husband has yet to get it thank god. It’s not reacurring with my children. My most resent accurance is an absessed on the back of my neck very painful It finnally went down after a full course of Bactrum . Four days off the meds it is back on the oppisite side of my neck. I am at my wit ends…..
Leave a Comment