The following is a press release from Johns Hopkins about research being done to understand why some people have recurrent sinus infections, despite being given all of the current therapies and even undergoing unsuccessful surgeries. The long and short of it is that these people have reduced gene activity in the body’s nasal immune system. Hopefully this study will eventually lead to better treatments for this problem, and less colonization in the nose of the bacteria that makes us sick. Read more:
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have evidence that curbed activity from several key chemicals on the inner lining of the nose are linked to chronic sinusitis that fails to respond to the usual current treatments.
An estimated 32 million Americans know the misery of persistent inflammation of the moist tissue that lines the nose and sinus cavities. The result is clogged passages and recurring infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Because nearly one in 10 of those treated see symptoms return within weeks or months after drugs or surgery fail to keep the sinus passages open, scientists have long suspected that these resistant cases had some underlying problem with the immune system contributing to the ailment.
In a study to be described on Sept. 19 at the annual scientific sessions of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Hopkins team found that in chronic sufferers who failed to respond to treatment, the activity of at least four genes in the body’s nasal immune defense system were severely decreased, and their production of two proteins critical to this defense was 20 to 200 times less than normal.
Comparing nasal epithelial cell samples from nine patients who benefited from surgery with nine who did not, the Hopkins team discovered suppressed levels of human beta defensin 2 (HBD2) and mannose binding lectin (MBL) in those whose symptoms returned. The proteins are naturally produced in the nose whenever the immune system detects foreign bacteria or fungi, binding to invading pathogens, inactivating them and making them easily disposed of.
An earlier study published by the same team in the March-April issue of the American Journal of Rhinology also showed that sinus tissue from people with chronic sinusitis that resisted treatment had 30 times lower than normal activity of a so-called toll-like receptor gene, TLR9.
Inside the nose, researchers say, toll-like receptor proteins (TLRs) detect invading bacteria and other pathogens in the air by attaching to their trace byproducts. Once a threat is identified, the receptors stimulate the epithelial cells to produce antibiotic proteins, such as HBD2 and MBL, to fight the invading organisms. This innate response helps prevent airborne bacteria or fungi from settling in the nose and sinus cavities, causing infection.
“Colonization with microorganisms is a common problem in patients with chronic sinusitis and polyps, but the reasons for this are incompletely understood,” says Andrew Lane, M.D., an associate professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of its rhinology and sinus surgery center. “Now we are uncovering new clues as to what might be wrong and perhaps, ultimately, how it might be treated.
“The nose’s first line of defense is the epithelium, and when the local innate immune function is curtailed, infections can get a head start, which might serve to worsen the sinus inflammation.
“The potential is there to manipulate these chemical receptors and proteins to see if this makes patients more responsive to conventional therapy,” says Lane.
The study, led by Lane, was believed to be the first to determine levels of each TLR – there are 10 – by directly measuring messenger RNA expression in sinusitis patients and those more fortunate to not have it. Scientists have known for more than a year that TLRs were present in both the healthy and sinusitis-wracked nose, but not which receptors or proteins were more important than others in the condition’s chronic form. That study involved 30 men and women, mostly from the Baltimore region, who had surgery for chronic sinusitis at Hopkins. (Another 10 had no sinus problem and served as study controls.)
Those who underwent surgery did so after standard therapy using antibiotics, decongestants and steroids had failed to stop their symptoms and keep their infections from coming back. Indeed, 20 participants in the study had developed nasal polyps, which have no known cause and are especially hard to treat, researchers say. They note that polyps must often be surgically removed to allow the sinuses to drain normally.
All patients were monitored for a minimum of six months to see if any symptoms or polyps returned. Thirteen in the surgery group had recurrent inflammation within three months to one year after surgery, while the rest remained symptom free.
The Hopkins team took samples during surgery of the mucous membrane lining the nose, and using real-time polymerase chain reaction, analyzed the samples for any genetic differences between the groups.
“Surgically treating sinusitis is much like plumbing, in the sense that we try to restore normal sinus cavity drainage pathways,” adds study presenter Murugappan Ramanathan Jr., M.D., a resident in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at Hopkins. “But for the intractable cases, surgery may fail because the problem is not so much about plumbing as it is inflammation, and for this we need research at the molecular level to find a solution.”
Funding for this study was provided in part by the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with additional funding coming from the American Rhinologic Society.
Besides Lane and Ramanathan, other researchers involved in this research, conducted solely at Hopkins, were Quynh Ai Truong-Tran, Ph.D., and Robert Schleimer, Ph.D.
Contact: David March
dmarch1@jhmi.edu
410-955-1534
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
bacteria, colonization, Infection Prevention, Johns Hopkins, Research and Development
105 responses so far ↓
Karen Davidson // Jan 26, 2007 at 9:14 am
I have had no less than 7 surgeries on my sinuses. I have tubes in my ears. I am a 54 year old female who has been diagnosed with MRSA of the sinuses. I was treated with vacomiacin but developed a rash so was withdrawn. My ears feel like they are full and they itch and I feel drainage run into them. My nose has had a sore in it for 5 years that won’t heal. Thick mucas and crusting are a way of life for me. On top of everything else, I am a chronic asthmatic. Have been on disability because of all this since 1992. Is there anything out there to give me relief?
Christina // Jan 26, 2007 at 9:31 am
Hi Karen, thanks for the comment. First of all, a rash is very normal from Vancomycin, it is called Red Man Syndrome. But it certainly is possible you were allergic to it, my husband was as well. There are other antibiotics available now that can treat MRSA – zyvox, cubicin and others – my advice to you is to see another doctor – apparently whomever you are seeing now is not up on the current treatments. I would HIGHLY recommend you seek and Infectious Disease specialist. And do seek one, this infection is damaging your body, and could eventually break free from your sinuses and enter your bloodstream. Take care of yourself, please!
Lisa // Jan 28, 2007 at 12:09 am
My son who is now 27 has had what we thought was severe acne on his back for a few years now. He was incarcerated at 19 for about a year and is serving time in prison now. He also has a couple of tatoos. I am wondering if he could possibly have MRSA? No one in our family has acne or any real skin problems. It has gotten much worse lately and I am very worried about him. He also has a lot of sinus type problems and headaches.
Christina // Jan 28, 2007 at 12:14 am
Hi Lisa, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to do what you can to see that he is tested. If they can culture his acne and swab his nose, it might tell you a lot. Good luck to him, let us know how it goes, and try not to worry, hopefully it is nothing major.
Kathrin // Feb 5, 2007 at 11:13 am
I have been fighting MRSA infection in my sinuses for over a year now. I’ve been on three IV drugs all of which I was allergic to. I have been on Zyvox for about eight months and it works but the infections return within one to two months. I’m learning to deal with it but my question is, can anyone tell me if I am contagious? Not even my infectionous disease doctor will really say. Good luck to everyone else dealing with terrible problem.
Lisa // Feb 5, 2007 at 7:58 pm
My son is trying to get tested soon. He thinks the acne like infection on his back and his sinus trouble may be MRSA related. If I have any helpful information to report after he is tested I will give details here. Good luck to all and God bless you with recovered health.
Christina // Feb 5, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Kathrin – certainly your fluids have MRSA that can be spread – be sure and wash your hands obsessive/compulsively, and that will help prevent spreading it more than anything. Maybe you need to consider another ID doc?
Christina // Feb 5, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Lisa, thanks for the update – please do keep in touch. I pray everything goes well for your son!
Karen Nolan // Feb 6, 2007 at 8:33 am
Dear Christina
I have been fighting sinus infections one after the other and as soon as I finish an antibiotic within a week or so another one starts. This has been going on for at least 12 years now. My doctor has no idea what to do anymore and yes I have had a few sinus surgeries too. Please give me some ideas of what to do and where to go. We live in Canada.
Thank You
Karen
Christina // Feb 6, 2007 at 8:43 am
Hi Karen, first thing I would make sure to do is to get another opinion. Probably from a specialist in Infectious Disease. All of the antibiotics you have taken have made the bacteria resistant, I would imagine, and you will probably need to try some sort of different therapy. Please do seek another opinion though, I am sure you can get rid of your problem.
Jean Carman // Jul 5, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I have a friend who has had recurrent sinus infections since having sinus surgery several years ago. She is allergic to most abx and has to be desensitized in ICU before every round with the PIC line. She gets about 6 weeks reprieve between infections. She had surgery in Seattle to remove the front part of her skull and clear out the frontal sinuses and fill it with body fat. She had a longer reprieve but now she is sick again and for the first time, it is MRSA. Please advise…what can we do, where can we go. Desperate!!!
Jean
Kathrin // Jul 5, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Dear Jean,
I am learning that MRSA is everwhere. I’m also learning to stay away from doctor’s offices and hospitals as much as possible because they are infested! Get a reputable ID doctor and don’t let any doctor talk you into anymore surgery. That’s where people are getting infected. Harsh reality isn’t it?
Kathrin
Debby // Jul 5, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I am a 43-year-old female with chronic recurring sinus problems. I have had about 7 sinus surgeries including frontal sinus obliteration. My last sinus surgery for polyps was this month. I have had tubes in my ears for the last 2 years. I had Pseudomonas infection in my sinuses about a year ago. This cleared. Now, with the tubes in my ears being changed this month, I found out I have MRSA in my ears only, not my sinuses. I have been given Vioxx to treat my ears. Is this going to work? I see stories above where these people having been fighting this problem for years. I also have severe asthma, which at the moment is under control. But, today is the first day I have received the Vioxx and I know I have had it for over a week since the surgery. I also want to know I am contagious to other. I have a 7-month-old living with me. I am aware of proper hand washing to prevent spread. But what else can I do to ensure my grandson does not get MRSA from me?
Biopsy // Jul 8, 2007 at 4:36 pm
You guys may be interested to link to my personal blog
http://biopsy.wordpress.com/
I’m a 50-year female with a long history of chronic frontal sinus infection with multiple surgeries carried out. I contracted an MRSA infection in my skull two years ago following a repeat external- frontoethmoidectomy procedure with the insertion of a stent. I am presently recovering from a ‘Reidel’ procedure (removal of anterior bony wall of frontal sinuses bilaterally via a coronal incision) as a result of developing chronic osteomyelitis caused by MRSA.
Debbie // Jul 22, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Hi I am a 35 year old female with two young kids ages 2.5 and 5. I have been battling chronic sinus infections for at least four years. I have been on multiple types of antibiotics only to have repeated infections set in only weeks after they are done. I get little response from some antibiotics namely amoxi-clavulin. I have had two sinus surgeries, wtith the last being a success, meaning that the sinuses are open for drainage. The problem is that I am still getting infections! The ENT is questioning MRSA or other “superbug”. He said he is not able to test for this through culture until I am done my current antibiotics. The other theory from the Immunologist is immunodeficiency &/or cellular damage in my sinuses due to scarring from the past. I have yet to see an Infection Disease specialist but it is in the works. As a result of all of the difficulties I have recently started migraines which are completely debilitating.
Does anyone have any advise? How was your MRSA diagnosed?
Sincerely Debbie
Biopsy // Jul 23, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Hi Debbie
My MRSA was first diagnosed by a simple nasal swab. I’d developed cellulitis around both eyes following open surgery for an abscess in one of the frontal sinuses. I was on oral antibiotics at the time but had no active nasal discharge. The infection required intensive IV antibiotic treatment to get a lasting response.
When my MRSA recurred a year later it reappeared as a really aggressive frontal sinus infection with pus streaming from one side of my nose. A swab was taken of this pus which showed it to be a positive MRSA infection. Again I was on oral antibiotics at the time of the nasal swab but was failing to respond to them.
I’d recommend you get a nasal swab done asap.
Best of Luck!
Biopsy
Karie // Aug 14, 2007 at 12:13 am
hi I am a 40 yar old female who had surgery on my sinuses this past july 5th i have been suffering a sinus infection ever since now i have mrsa and was on bactrim and now on zyvox -very expensive.. hate that i can only eat certain foods do i go see another specialist or what i am in fear that i will never get this out of my system any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks to all and good luck to all sufferers out there .
Steph // Aug 15, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Hi Karie
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Keep going on the Zyvox if you can – I know it’s a hard drug to tolerate. I was put on it long-term leading up to surgery earlier this year (having had a recurrence of MRSA) and I got the ‘all-clear’ when screened pre-operatively – so it obviously does the business! And as far as I’m aware, I’m still in the all-clear 4 months on! Make sure you get follow-up nasal swabs taken when you finish the antibiotic – you will only get peace of mind when you get the all-clear. Good luck.
Karie // Aug 19, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Steph
thanks for the information and yes I plan on staying on the zyvox until finished i just hope that this MRSA does not stay in my system i already think i have passed on and infection to my husband because he has bronchitis. is just hope that he does not have the mrsa .
Karen Nolan // Aug 20, 2007 at 10:15 am
Just a quick e-mail since last Feb. I had a cat scan on my sinuses and now I have a blockage so I am going to see a specialist next month. I hope to be able to finally get rid of these recurring sinus infections one after the other. Thanks for all the e-mails.
Karen
linda mugavero // Oct 5, 2007 at 12:58 am
i was diagnosed w/mrsa 5 years ago,battling sinus infections for years since 1998. the diagnosis was from a culture tkn during surgery.i was further put on antibiotics to cure this and the infectious disease dr cleared me without further testing.he suggested i go to a learning hospital for any further questions or diagnosis,he didnt like me asking all the questions,well how funny, this is 5 years later,2007 and i had my 4th surgery,with the same diagnosis mrsa colonization and infection in my maxillary sinus. i have contacted a specialist and new inf dis dr regarding treatment,have had no reply to my email to the hospital with the inf dis surgeon,nor any help from the new inf dis dr except to go back on meds until further surgery can be performed by a doctor who knows what hes dealing with. noone seems to know a dr who can deal with mrsa in the sinus and leading into part of my skull. in 1991, a dental surgeon removed a large tumor/cyst in my maxillary area and replaced the empty cavity with tcp and freeze dried bone, he is dead now. he noted in his chart i had a congenital crack in my jaw. my current surgeon believes that this is where the mrsa infection lies and needs to be removed,as it is leaking the infection into my sinus,creating years of infections. i have contacted a place called the skull base institute in california but the head dr wants $600 UP front for evaluation and i will be reimbursed by my ins. co. i dont have this kind of money but i want his opinion,i am frightened to death how far this infection has possibly spread into my face. this dr specifically goes through your nose for all types of surgery and never cuts open your skull from any type of skull surgery. does anyone know any mrsa special surgeons that can help me,or does anyone out there have any comments or suggestions for me,please help i am so frightened,people say this can spread very quickly,well how about since 1991 or so,i have already lost a considerable amount of weight from stress,going thru a divorce and my house went on fire shortly after my 4th surgery.does anyone know a specific website just for this mrsa bacteria?? help please. ty
Steph // Oct 5, 2007 at 10:45 am
Linda – I’m sorry to hear your story.
My immediate reaction to it is that you may be going down the wrong track in looking for an ‘MRSA special surgeon’. I don’t think there is such a thing. What you need to find is the right drug treatment for your MRSA before considering any further surgery. If you’ve not already done so, you need to get your infection properly analysed by a specialist in microbiology (possibly called an infectious disease consultant in your country?) and your sinus surgeon should refer you for this. This will accurately identify which antibiotics your strain of MRSA is particularly sensitive to so that an intensive course of antibiotics can be commenced. This sort of treatment may have to be delivered intra-venously (meaning a stay in hospital) but if it means that you can clear your system of MRSA and possibly avoid further surgery, then it’s surely worth a try.
I wish you the best of luck.
Regards, Steph
Joey // Oct 18, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I have recently had my 4 th sinus sx, like many of you all that have posted on this site. The surgery culture showed MRSA for the first time. I have been put on Bactrum DS for 20 days but no mention of IV antibiotics as of yet. Does anyone know if this seems long enough? I know the culture showed that this strain of MRSA is sensitive to Bactrim. Is this really something that can spread quickly? I have read a million conflicting reports. thanks for the advise if any,
Joey
Steph // Oct 18, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Hi Joey
If the culture showed up a sensitivity to Bactrim then your prescription should work. However I am not in a position to advise you on your concern as to whether the dosage will be enough to stamp out the MRSA infection for good. I suggest you ask your surgeon or general practitioner for more ‘up front’ information.
Best of luck! Steph
anomnymous // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:15 am
Linda can you please email me i have this in my sinuses too but feel like it is spreading to my face nd jaw area. kyfillie06@yahoo.com thats azero in the email address. i feel like im getting no where with this infection also.
Tammy // Nov 11, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Hello,
I am currently being treated for MRSA.I have sarcoidosis of the sinuses and this has posed great trouble for me. My sinuses are really set up for infections and have been chronic since 1999. I have been on ABX since Sept, all Staph…but the last one came back as MRSA. I have been referred to an Infectious Control MD, but am not able to get in to see him til the end of Jan! I am a nurse also, and being positive for active respiratory MRSA, has put work at a stand still and have been told not to work til my cultures are clear. Understandably, I comply. This is very difficult and has put a financial strain on the household. In the past and now, I have been very careful and followed all precautions needed. Sadly, I know all are not so careful and puts us all at risk.I am off work until at least Dec14th after my ABX TX ends and culture is taken. My frustration is the continual battle with this. We had my husband cultured to see if he was a carrier…no symptoms, so he can be treated also if need be.We should have results this Monday. Well, thanks for allowing me to vent. Hopeful til the end!
Tammy
anomnymous // Nov 11, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Tammy could you please tell me what sarcoidosis
anomnymous // Nov 11, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Tammy could you please tell me what sarcoidosis is of the sinuses?
Mac Miller // Nov 12, 2007 at 3:15 pm
My husband has had a sinus inf since July.He had sinus surg in Sept. He is feeling worse.His post op CT is worse than pre op. C&S showed bug bactrim ds sensitive.He has been on for a week and feels worse. What is the next step,second opinion from ENT or ID doc?
Tammy // Nov 12, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Hello Anonymous,
To answer your question about Sarcoidosis……Sarcoidosis is an Autoimmune disease that can affect any organ of the body. Usually, it affects the lungs, but I am without symptoms there. I have had 3 sinus SX to open up pathways that the sarcoid tissues closed. Sarcoid produces granulous tissue in unwanted places. They have linked this disease now to cell-wall difficient bacteria which affects those that are susceptable to this. Most people can fight off the germs, my body makes a home for them in the granulous tissue. I am being treated non-traditionally to fight this. Traditionally steroids and other meds are used. If you have any other questions concerning this, you can find more info at http://www.marshallprotocol.com. Hope this helped.
Lynn // Feb 3, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I am about at the end of my rope. I have had 12 sinus surgeries and been on IV antibiotics for MRSA 7 times. I thought I had it licked because I did not get an infection for almost a year, but after having a recent sinus infection and swab, it came back MRSA again. I have been to ENT, Infectious Disease, Epidemiologist, Dermatologist, etc. It keeps coming back. I am 52 and been fighting these infections since I was in my 30s. I try to exercise and be healthy, but no matter what I do, nothing works. Any ideas from anyone?
steph // Feb 3, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Hello Lynn
Poor you! I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through. Having been there myself, I can totally empathise in how soul destroying it is to have recurrent MRSA sinus infections. A positive MRSA swab means little to the medics but it can be devastating news to the patient. It means that all the previous treatment has failed and must now be faced all over again with no guarantee of success.
I thought I’d never get the all-clear from MRSA but after extensive surgery 10 months ago, I haven’t tested positive since. I am however still colonised by Staph A and have found it difficult to rid myself of this.
If you would like to, you can read more about my sinus history and problems with MRSA at
http://biopsy.wordpress.com/
or just click on Steph above.
Then click on ‘MRSA’ in the tag cloud on right hand side of site. You can leave a comment for me on the blog if you wish.
I wish I could give you some reason for hope, Lynn. All I can tell is that you’re not alone in your experience. The very best of luck.
mary // Feb 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm
hi lynn sorry you can get rid of this i cant either and some other girls i know. if you would like to email me please feel free were here if you need to talk.
Diana // Feb 19, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Does MRSA cause watering of the eyes and vision problems?
mary // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:45 pm
it has with me
Pat // Feb 23, 2008 at 5:43 pm
4 weeks ago I had sinus surgery. This week Dr took a culture, possible MRSA. question : How do I keep from spreading it to others? I work in the health field.
mary // Feb 23, 2008 at 7:07 pm
KYFILLIE06@YAHOO.COM EMAIL ME YOUR NOT ALONE THERES SEVERAL OF US THT HAVE THIS IN SINUSES. YOU MY NEED TO WEAR MASK ALONG WITH GOOD HANDWASHING IF POSSIBLE
Pat // Feb 25, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Mary Thank you for your support. My culture just came back. Negative for MRSA
Laura // Mar 1, 2008 at 9:19 am
I have chronic sinusitis, which I always thought was due to allergies. About 2 months ago, I had a sinus lift with bone graft done by an oral surgeon in preparation for a dental implant. At the time of the surgery I had a sinus infection for which I was prescribed Amocicillin. I asked whether the surgery should be postponed due to theinfection ,but was told that the infection would not interfere with the surgery. Stupidly, I believed what my dentist and surgeon told me and went ahead with the surgery. The surgeon kept me on the Amoxicillin post surgery. A few days after the procedure I started experiencing intense pain at the incision site as well as in my sinuses. On exam, the oral surgeon told me that I had developed a “little infection,” which he drained. He also told me that I had developed an oral-nasal fistula, which explained why liquids I held in my mouth would start pouring our of my nose alon with foul smelling green puss. He also took me off Amoxicillin and put me on Flagel for one week. After that week, the pain got worse, so I went to another oral surgeon, who immediately put me on Augmenten XR, took a Catscan of my head and did a culture. He also told me that he thought I would need surgery to remove the bone graft and clean-out my sinuses. At the time, the culture showed that I had strep and “rare” MRSA. After one week on the Augmenten, I continued to feel sick and elected to have the surgery last Sunday. During surgery another, more robust, culture was taken. This one should moderate MRSA. At that point and ID specialist was called in. He put me on minocyin, but ever since the operation I have been having intense debilitating headaches and feel even sicker than before. Yesterday, I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I called the ID doctor, who has now switched me to iv cubicin. Last night, I had the same horrible headache and sick feeling all night. I’ve been taking Vicodin and Rx Ibuprofen for the pain, but it doesn”t seem to help. Any idea why I keep having the pain and headaches that start in the late afternoon and last all night? thanks for reading this. L
Becky // Mar 8, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I have had several surgeries; and been treated for MRSA with IV drugs; and had constant sinus infections for the past 15 years. I had a spontenous fistula leak and spinal fluid leaked through my skull and out my nose. My MRSA has never gone away. Now my jaws hurt all the time. Could this be related?
m // Mar 9, 2008 at 10:58 pm
hi i have this pin also in my jaws you can email mr if you like kyfillie06@yahoo.com
mAtt // Mar 23, 2008 at 1:06 am
I recommend that you guys suffering from Sinus issues check out The Grossan Hydropulse a true lifesaver and if you can up your B-12 but only sub lingual tablets. Additionally you can check out Aerosol Science Laboratories in Calabasas, California get a referral to a doc in your area. Those guys are the bomb!!! lucky for me I had Murray Grossan Md in Los Angeles. He is a very good doctor and a kind man. He prescribed liquid Mupiricin via a nebulizer and the Hydropulse it really helped. ASl labs did it all after prescription they rock! They have a web site as well. i wish you all luck it is a horrible road to travel. I know!
Donna Herrlinger // May 29, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I thought my story was exciting until I read some of these others. I am a 52 year old female who has been coughing since I was 10 years old. My dad used to get so mad at me for coughing , he tried to make me drink raw codeine elixir. I remember it burning my throat. Over the years, I have been to ear, nose and throat docs, gastroenterologists, allergists, cough specialist in Philadelphia at U of Penn. I had my apendix removed before it ruptured, the next day after discharge I was in the ER with a severe infection and the culture revealed MRSA. The wound had to heal from the inside out. I had several bronchoscopies performed and they showed MRSA. I have had too many sinus infections to speak of and the antibiotics are given and the infection comes back. My first sinus surgery, the doctor didn’t think to do a culture- he felt I’d be OK when he removed the polyps. 5 years later the polyp returned and I just had surgery again. This time the surgeon did cultures and guess what?? active MRSA in my maxillary sinuses. I have suffered over the years more than anyone would know unless they also took the road I traveled.
Tom // Jul 16, 2008 at 12:03 pm
If Vancomycin does not work, try 600mg of zyvox for 30 days. I warn you the medication is terrible in itself. Bactrin DS is for the treatment of skin born MRSA. Anything inside of the body will not usually respond to it. Watch out MRSA is a gram positive bacteria so it leaves you open to gram negative infections and fungul infections. I usually take diflucan with Zyvox to avoid the yeast factory from starting up. At one point I had no gram positive bacteria left in my body and I got Pneumonia, Klebsiella, a yeast infection and a gram negative bacterial infection. I about to just give up.
prolan3 // Aug 5, 2008 at 9:22 am
PdJ2ZP wwwwqqqqsssddd
prolan5 // Aug 5, 2008 at 9:37 am
GDyEjS eeeerrrffddgggggggccccc
Shannon Reyes // Aug 7, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hi. I am a long time suffer of chronic sinus problems. I had surgery several years ago in which polups were removed and a deviated septum fixed and all sinuses drained. About a year ago, I found out I had MRSA in the sinus area. I was so sick, I felt horrible. I almost fainted in a lecture hall at school. Today, I am experiencing similar signs, worst of all is the foul disgusting odor in my sinus. I want to know if anyone has suggestions on new medications that will help to get rid of this infection. My doc has me on doxycliene, but I don’t feel that it is going to work. Next visit I am going to insist on a nasal swab and a ct of my sinus. Any suggestions?
I am so frustrated and tired of not feeling well…………thanks.
Kathrin // Aug 7, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Hi Shannon. I’m so sorry you are suffering with this stuff. I’ve been through several rounds of MRSA in my sinsues. In the end the one medication that worked the best and got rid of it is Zyvox. It’s taken orally which is nice because nobody likes piclines. You should see an infectious disease doctor and have him do a sinus culture. If they do a swab it will almost always show positive. You need a culture. Be prepared to feel very tired while on this medication but I swear by this medication. Good luck to you and hang in there.
Vasyu // Aug 8, 2008 at 12:56 pm
VMXM2q Vasyu testit vasyu.net
Susan // Aug 9, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I have just started down the mrsa sinus road. I have lost my job as a nurse since I am out of sick and flma time. I feel tired and ill all the time. I run fevers up to 102. I feel like giving up all hope. If it
wasn’t for my sister I would be living under a bridge in a box. Thanks for listening.
derf // Aug 15, 2008 at 4:55 am
CvDYo4 re re rerrrreeee gththtt
rmpal // Sep 11, 2008 at 1:37 am
My chronic sinus problem and medication :
I am a 50yrs old american.
I have had chronic recurring sinusitis for the past 20 years. After countless rounds of antibiotics and 3 CT scans, I was told I needed sinus surgery.
After having 2 sinus infections within a month, I found Sinofresh products. I have been using it for 7 weeks now, and so far, so good. They really help with drainage and does not have an unpleasant after-taste.These are the only things I have ever used that work. I had tried pills,
over the counter sprays and prescription steroid sprays, and nothing had given me relief. Be a little patient; they improve the environment of your sinuses over time with regular use. As for the smell/taste, you get used to Sinofresh products, and I never minded it that much anyway. And also these are a non – habit formmig products. Now I am recommending Sinofresh to everyone I know. You can online purchase these products either from http://www.sinofreshstore.com or from any one of the following stores -
http://www.wegmans.com / store.publix.com / http://www.natlallergy.com / http://www.drugstore.com
Thank you for being with me. All the best, use sinofresh and get rid of sinus allergies .
Becky // Sep 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm
rmpal’s post is a joke. Obviously this person only wants to sell some product for someone with a runny nose, not those of us with real chronic sinunitis. My preference would be for rmpal to stay off the site.
Tom // Sep 11, 2008 at 7:55 pm
SINOFRESH! I have been fighting MRSA for 2.5 years and Sinofresh products do nothing for MRSA. You need to study the bacteria itself and understand it. Or, you do not have MRSA or chronic sinusitis. I am now on Cubicin and Inavanz via IV 7 days a week for 6 weeks. It has horrible side effects but I hope it works. The MRSA has already eaten away at my sinus cavities and septum. Get real with Sinofresh.
Chris // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:45 am
I have had 5 sinus operations in 10 years.I have been week and sick the morjority of the time,headaches,dizziness,tired,no energy,Iam like the walking dead.Just told I have mrsa 1 sinus infection.Can anyone tell me what the symptoms are,and how long a person can carry such infection?Started levaquin 750mgx1,will this work?please any help would be great,Chris in Texas
Kathrin // Sep 15, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Hi Chris. Did your doctor do a swab or a did he take a glob and culture it? Almost everyone will test positive for MRSA done by a swab. It depends on the strain. Levaquin is good for a regular staph infection but it won’t cure MRSA. I battled MRSA in my sinues for over a year. I was treated with all different types of antibiotics through a pic line but was alergic to all of them. I ended up on Zyvox orally for several months and that finally cured me. I have been MRSA free now for almost two years. I suggest you see a good ENT for a culture and then go to and infectous disease doctor for treatment. I know how awful you feel and I hope you get the care you need. Hang in there you can beat this bug.
Chris // Sep 15, 2008 at 10:46 pm
thank you…..
Tracy // Sep 18, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Karen-
Did you take any probiotics while you were on the Zvox? To stop the beastie yeasties from coming. I usually do well with Culturelle, but I have never been on antibiotics this long before.
I was diagnosed with MRSA last week and have been taking doxcycline but am nmot responding so they are putting me on a Zyvox/Bactrim bomb.
Here’s hoping!
Chris // Sep 21, 2008 at 1:16 am
I started on ramiphin 300mg x 2 and bactrim for mrsa of my sinus,has anyone had any luck with this combo?IT IS ROUGH ON YOUR SYSTEM.
Tom // Sep 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I have not had any luck with that. They usually use Bactrim for skin based
MRSA. I am currently in the hospital with my 6th Infection in 5 months.
The MRSA has eaten away at my sinuses as I have had it for almost 2 years.
Currently I am on Cubicin and Invanz via IV for 6 weeks. The side effects
are horrendous. Worse tham Zyvox. Make sure your ID doctor is up to snuff
Claudine // Sep 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I have a friend that has had 8 sinus surgeries due to MRSA. She also has fibromyalgia. She is at her wits end. She is only good for about 1 month at a time. Her physician and her ENT don’t know what else to do for her. HELP !!!!
Claudine // Sep 24, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I have a friend that has had 8 sinus surgeries due to MRSA. She also has fibromyalgia. She is at her wits end. She is only good for about 1 month at a time. Her physician and her ENT don’t know what else to do for her. HELP !!!!
Michelle // Sep 26, 2008 at 10:09 am
I am on my second MRSA sinus infection in six months. First one responded to the Rifampin 300 mg BID/Bactrim Combo. I had to take it 6 weeks and I felt pretty rotten from the side effects. This time, I’m back on oral Rifampin and my ENT/ID MD team has compounded Vancomycin Nasal Spray, which they say say is proving to be pretty effective. I’m also sinus rinsing w/a betadine saline solution recipe. Wish me luck!
amydent9 // Oct 21, 2008 at 5:38 am
I have sinus MSRA
I believe it is due to my root canal, which made me totally sick.
I also ahve lyme disease, and wonder if there is a connection between my MRSA in sinus and lyme whihc also messes up sinus. I suggest you chekc for lyme if you have other health symptoms through Igenix lab
amydent9 // Oct 21, 2008 at 5:39 am
can this be transmitted in public pools?
or does the chlorine stop that
david // Dec 19, 2009 at 9:03 pm
PLEASE SEE THIS WEB RELATED STUDY, ON MESO SILVER. IT SHOWS GOOD EVIDENCE IN KILLING MRSA IN THE SINUSES. WHEN MESOSILVER IS FLOODED INTO THE SINUSES IT WORKS. http://www.silver-colloids.com/Pubs/EMSL/SaureusMRSA.pdf
Kim // Dec 24, 2009 at 10:59 am
I am 42 years old and have had sinus infections for as long as I can remember. November 4th I had sinus surgery to remove a blockage, open my sinuses, widen the turbinates and fix my deviated septum. Long story short, I continued to have pain and pressure but with swelling around the eyes and pain when moving my eyeballs. My ENT told me my sinuses were fine, all he did was look in my nose. He sent me to an eye dr. He looked at my eyes and said your eyes are fine. Went back to ENT he sent me for another CT. That showed my sinuses were full of puss. Went back in for surgery, ENT said everything is fine now. About a week later, I still was not feeling well called the ENT and he said your sinuses are fine, go to the eye dr. So again I truck off to the eye doctor and he said I don’t understand why the ENT insists that it is your eyes. He said, didn’t the ENT look at you? you can clearly see something is wrong. So he took a nasal culture and it came back possitive for MRSA. ENT then put me on Levequin. After a few days that wasn’t doing anything. Went to see ENT and he said look, there is nothing wrong with you, he took a quick peek up my nose and said everything looks beautiful, you have to see the eye doctor again. Went to eye dr, he did all of the normal test they do and he was very confused and said lets get you in to see a IDS and he did another nasal culture along with an eye culture. Both of those came back negative. For what, I have no idea. I went to the IDS and he said Levequin isn’t going to help you. So he put me on Bactrim. That was over a week ago. Today, I have had some relief, very little. My eyes are still swollen, they still hurt, I still have pain and pressure in my face and forehead. IDS told me to see my ENT and he needs to tell me what he thinks is wrong with my eye and see the eye doctor and he needs to tell me what he thinks is wrong with my sinuses and they need to come to some sort of conclusion. Well, I can’t get in to see the ENT for about 3 weeks, I see my IDS in two weeks and he is hoping for some kind of answer from the other doctors before my visit. I am scared that this is going to move to my brain, or get into my bloodstream and travel someplace else. I have two days left on the Bactrim and I know it’s not going to do anymore than it has. I have decided I will not go in for anymore sinus surgeries. Obviously, it doesn’t work. I’m afraid the IDS is going to put me in the hospital for IV antibiotics and I can’t do that, I have children to take care of and my husband can’t stay home with them he needs to work. I have no family here. HELP!!!!
Any info/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Becky // Dec 25, 2009 at 7:48 am
Kim-
I went through the same things you are. I now only trust my IND. I found an IND who treaded nursing patients for MRSA. He worked with a reliable ENT (I would not trust yours if he did not send you to an IND to begin with!) Together, they swabbed and experimented until they found a formula that worked for me. IVs are no better than pills. My cure after 3 IV attempts is a pill mixture. After suffering for 10 years I now only trust my IND who I found in a nursing home.
Becky // Dec 25, 2009 at 7:49 am
Kim-
PS I know flushing with saline water and sometimes with a little vinegar sounds awful, but you will find it to be helpful to get the build up out from behind your eyes.
Elle // Jan 18, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I have had a sinus infection for more than 8 months, I’ve been told non of my cultures come back MRSA but two surgeries later, still infected and in pain with little energy.
I’ve been treated at the VA, does anyone have experience with them? I need dental work but I am afraid to get started as I don’t want the infections to mingle and the VA doesn’t pay for that so I am fiancially drained as I can’t work.
Judith // Apr 4, 2010 at 7:15 am
My daughter introduced me to research she did on taking “Oil of Oregano” soft gels. It is supposed to help clear up sinus infections, aid in decongesting sinuses, and kill MRSA over a period of time. I started taking two soft gels a day two months ago. I found out I had MRSA trapped in my Maxillary Sinuses in Jan. 2009. I have surgery to remove two rare and deadly fungus tumors and MRSA was found trapped behind the tumors. I was quarantined in my home for 6 weeks and put on a triple strength of a combination of three antibiotics to try to clear up the MRSA infection. I was very sick and weak. I even lost hair from the infection and treatment. But now I am a MRSA carrier. This past winter I had three more Sinus infections. Finally during the last one, my Dr. put me on a double strength antibiotic and twice longer than usual. That one seemed to take care of it…this time! I started on the Oil of Oregano after that. My Dr. ordered a Sinus Cat Scan two weeks ago. There was no sign of infection or inflamation for the first time in a long time.
By the way, this last sinus surgery was my fourth one in 35 years. I have had reacurring sinus problems for years. I think I have had MRSA for years in my sinuses and no one ever looked for it.
Now that we know what the problem is, we know how to deal with it.
In the meantime, I am battling it myself with the Oil of Oregano. I will continue to take it and see if it helps to keep infections away.
You can get it at a great price through http://www.puritanpride.com I also bought the pure oil to use on open sores and to use in an infuser to breath into my sinuses. I read that it is great to heal sores and also very good to breath into the sinuses. You can do your own research by googling the information. I hope that this helps a lot of people dealing with MRSA like I am. Thank you.
Sandra // Apr 20, 2010 at 7:21 am
IND What is this?
Lauren // Apr 27, 2010 at 9:28 am
I am 25 and have been battling sever sinus and allergy problem since middle school. I have gone through every treatment just short of sinus surgery. I have been on every medication under te sun, had my tonsils and adenoids removed, and been on allregy shots. Nothing every really worked.
A few weeks ago I started seeing a new otorhinolaryngologist and so far he has worked wonders. He is the first on to diagnose my severe MRSA infection in my sinuses. He put me on Bactrim and Prednisone to get it cleard up as much as possible before we seek out a longterm treatment plan. It has worked wonderfully. I haven’t been able to breathe this well in years!! For any of you suffering the same thing, I suggest this combination if you haven’t tried it. Bactrim is one of the few antibiotics that will fight MRSA.
Tiffany // May 29, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I can’t believe there are so many people out there like me! I Have all of the same problems and symptoms as all of you! I am only 25 and had 3 sinus surgeries by the time I was 18. After I had my son in 2008 I have been really sick. Its like ive had one major sinus infection since then. I finally had enough and didnt stop looking for help. I have been to every ENT in my area so I moved on to a Specialist in another city. He diagnosed me with fungus and Mrsa in my sinuses. After he was “finished” treating me (with no change in my fatigue, headaches and pressure) I finally got in to see a Infectious Disease Doctor, now I am waiting to be put on IV antibiotics and possible immune problems. IGE, IGA, IGG immunoglobins. he says i also have osteomylitis. (MRSA in the bone) hopefully he will help me find some relief. I have tried everything i have heard of. even the crazy things…lol My sister has also had all of the problems i have had. She was on IV antibiotics and basically just has given up (her headaches are not as dibilitating right now). My dad also had 3 sinus surgeries in the past. So maybe this has something to do with genetics. I am so tired of hearing I shouldnt be this tired andshouldnt be having dibilitating headaches because sinuses dont cause that and that I need to see a different doctor. It is so hard to get pain medication and it doesnt solve anything but it makes life bearable. I have a 2 year old to chase around. Also aftert giving birth to my son i lost all of my “baby weight” and have been gaining weight for no reason since. i am 50 lbs heavier than i was a year ago with no change in any eating or exercise patterns. Im wondering if it is because of all of the antibiotics and steroids i have been on or maybe it is a symptom of this “ailment”. Someone somewhere needs to get this undercontrol. I am allergic to almost everything, especially bactrum and any sulfa drugs (most antibiotics for MRSA) i also have asthma and recently it is severe. I can not finish college (Ive tried 3 times) and cant keep a job when i have unpredicable headaches. I wonder how you get on Disability. What is the answer? There has to be some genius somewhere that can help us. Good luck with everyone and God Bless! Email me Tiff1209@aol.com. put sinus problems or soemthing like that as the subject so i dont delete.lol i get a lot of junk mail. thanks, Tiffany
Emma // Jun 12, 2010 at 1:53 am
Hi! I am 27 years old Australian who has had 4 sinus surgeries (removal of polyps) and 2 sets of grommets put into my ears in the last 5 year. I know it is not as extreme as some of you but I am getting to my wits end. I feel like I’m constantly on a ferris wheel going around and around and around.
I believe I need to look at it all holisitically so I see a naturopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, allergist, ear specialist and head and neck surgeon (for the nose) as well as my GP. Luckily for me my surgeons constantly take swabs from my ears and nose and since my last op in March the culture in my nose keeps coming back as Psuedomonas.
Has anyone else had this and been able to get rid of it???? I am on the only anti – biotic that supposedly gets rid of it.
Also I have blocked ears constantly that the I see my ear doctor once a fortnight to try and suck out the crap. But now he is even getting frustrated that it is not working. The good thing is that ther is no infection – YAY! but the blockage still wont go away with huge……and I do mean huge doses of oral steriods.
Has anyone got any suggestions for me??
I am so listening…….
and willing to give anything a go =)
I am already looking into an infectious disease doctor and an endocrinologist.
Thank you and have a happy day =)
CMPatton // Jun 12, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Last year the first symptoms I noticed was eye problems and vision problems. I thought I had pink eye, but it didn’t get better with the eye drops. My tears seemed concentrated with something that made my eyelids and skin there burn. It would come and then go, come and go, and soon I began to have other symptoms. I had a little bit of a headache, blurred vision, very very tired, extreme joint pain in my hips and knees. My eyes, especially in the inner corners get dark, like I have black eyes or dark circles. My tears wont tear. What comes out is gummier than tears and sometimes they do crust a little in the morning.
Pretty soon the flare ups where accompanied by a rash in the middle of my forehead and on the right corner of my mouth. Another thing that is very weird is that the back of my neck itches but if I scratch it, it is so sensitive like when you have the flu and your skin is overly sensitive.
I’ve had blood work done to see if it’s auto immune. It seems not to be that. I had an MRI done because one day I had a 2 minute episode of double vision. They were looking for MS. It’s not that. I finally started my own research and I’m sure that it’s chronic sinusitis and it seems to be more specific to the sphenoid sinus. So very recently I went to see an ENT. They did a CT scan and there seems to be nothing too abnormal, but the CT scan was not done at a time of a major flare up. I’m so tired of this.
I have not been put on any medication because they just are not sure what it is. Could this be Chronic sinusitis MRSA?
Have you ever seen a person with Chronic sinusitis with these other symptoms? The flare ups come about every 10 days and last about 10 days. So I have 10 or so good then 10 or so bad.
Eileen // Jun 19, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I had lymph nodes taken from my neck because they said I might have hogkins, but it was traced to faulty dental work, I’ve been on medication for over a year for sinus infections all the doctors told me it had nothing to do with dental work, but a dentist just took x-rays, I have no pain but have a big infection under the caps in the back of my mouth. I’ve learned that an infection in the lower jaw can spread to the opposite sinus.
I think anyone with this level of sinus infections should have an exam by a competent dentist.
Ave // Jun 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Like many of you, I have been battling chronic sinus infections (MRSA) for the past 4 yrs or so. Bactrim DC & Prednisone work but only temporarily. My symptoms recur in about a week or so.
I’ve seen that some of you have experienced the foul smell in your nose. Is anyone experiencing halitosis? If so, what works to combat it? I can’t smell most days & this isn’t something that people really want to or are willing to telll you. I have no way of knowing how long I’ve been having this problem. I’m mortified & insecure, as if the MRSA & infection symptoms aren’t bad enough. Hopefully someone can give me some useful tips.
Thanks!
Eileen // Jun 28, 2010 at 8:43 am
My doctor says that it isn’t MRSA (now) but the infection is just as bad as it was two surgeries (or three if you count the lymph nodes) ago. If an infection won’t get cured by antibiotics, how is it not a MRSA. Can a MRSA become a different infection and still not have a cure?
Eileen // Jun 28, 2010 at 8:45 am
Forgot to mention the small and bad breath which are certainly part of my problems. I am forever brushing and using mouth wash, and a saline rinse in my nose. My sister (when asked) told me that when I sneeze there is sometimes a really bad odor, but otherwise it is not offensive so far, and she would tell me………I hope!
Patton // Jun 28, 2010 at 9:03 am
My brother aslo has sinus mrsa and he was sure he was dying. He had all the metal removed from fillings in his mouth hoping that would help. He also started taking colidal silver. He says it’s not gone but it’s livable .
Jill // Jul 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I had sinus surgery about 9 months ago because of recurrent sinus infections. It went great and I was infection free for 8 months. About a month ago, I went back to my ENT because I felt another SI coming on. He cultured it and it is MRSA. I am 4 months pregnant so they were afraid to give me any of the antibiotics it is susceptible to. So, they gave me a nasal mupirocin spray, which I’ve been taking for 2 1/2 weeks, but I still feel like the infection is there (face pain still). My OB said that the only thing he would recommend during pregnancy is Vancomycin, which would be the next step. How do you take Vanco as an outpatient since it is given by IV? Has anyone had experience with it? It’s good to hear of others experiencing the same thing, but kind of scary to hear of so many people struggling for years to get rid of this. Anyone out there been through this while pregnant?
Steve in WPB // Jul 30, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Would everyone please list their MRSA sinusitis symptoms…I think this would be so helpful to those like me who are wondering if they have it…I got my first sinusitis 2 years ago and despite countless antibiotics it has not relented one moment. Please people, list your symptoms.
Marie // Aug 4, 2010 at 7:54 am
I haven’t actually cultured MRSA, yet….but have a staph sinus infection that has not resonded to any treatment (all classes of antibiotics up to fluroquinolones). I just started a rinse of two antibiotics, antifungal and an antinflammatory.
My question is like Eileen’s…how can this NOT be MRSA? UGH!
Marie // Aug 4, 2010 at 7:58 am
To Jill….
God bless you…..being pregnant and dealing with this. One of the antibiotics that I am rinsing with is Vanco. Ask your doc if you can get it as a nasal rinse (through a neil-med bottle) or nebulized through a specialty inhaler. My doc says it doesn’t absorb into your system at all. A pharmacy called ASL in CA is where my stuff came from.
Steve in WPB // Aug 4, 2010 at 10:25 am
I fortunately had the good sense to take a glob that came out of my nose/sinuses and bring it to the doctor who got it cultured and found “heavy growth of acinetobacter baumanni”…a highly resistant bacteria. I strongly advise everyone here to DEMAND an endoscopic culture of their sinuses…if I had these 2 years ago I would have ersolved my suffering without countless unnecessary courses of antibiotics! But the doctors are too lazy to do it the right way and they make more money from all those office visits and ineffective drugs….
Marie // Aug 4, 2010 at 3:21 pm
YES–what Steve said! DO NOT TAKE ANTIBIOTICS unless your ENT can identify the specific pathogen(s) causing the infection. Over use and inproper use of ab’s is why there are resistant strains.
Luckily, I have been seeing my ENT for less than a year and he has cultured two infections, and sent specimens from my surgery to be tested/cultured.
Marilyn // Aug 13, 2010 at 9:45 am
How was your acinetobacter baumanni treated, Steve?
Wendy // Aug 31, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Jill,
There is a company in CA. ASL pharamcy that compounds vancomycin into a liquid that you can use through a nebulizer.
Megan // Sep 1, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I’m a 20 year old female, I was diagnoised with MRSA when I was 18 after my first sinus surgery.
I had sereral surgeries after than to try and scrap the MRSA out of my sinuses. I went for a IV treatment for over a year. Then for the next year I went on and off. I’ve had 12 PICC lines, and each and every time I get a infection in my blood from them. I’m not immune to the Vanco they use and my doctors have informed me that my MRSA has now turned into VRE. Which I assume is like hyper MRSA. For the past 6 months my MRSA or VRE has been under control. But, the past couple of weeks i’ve noticed my syptoms have been coming back. Blowing the yellow, green and brown chunks out of my nose. Big bumps all over my body that will puss. I’ve been extremly tired , and can’t even get enough energy to pull myself out of bed in the morning for work. I just don’t know what I should do. Everytime I go to the doctor they just want to play around and do the Vanco everytime, and I just wanted to know if someone else knew how i should go about getting help.
Kathrin // Sep 1, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Wow Megan I feel so bad for you. I’m 53 and have been through four sinus surgeries and MRSA several times as well. I’ve had picc lines and portacaths and everytime I get a blood infection as well. Finally the one thing that worked is in pill for and it’s called Zyvox. It is extremely expensive but so worth it. My inusrance covered the majority of it but my copays were still high. I don’t regret it at all. I haven’t had a problem with MRSA for almost three years now. Talk with a good Infectious disease doctor about it and God bless you. You are too young to have to go through this. With love and hope for a great outcome, Kathrin.
Marie // Sep 1, 2010 at 7:04 pm
To Jill–Yes, what Wendy said. I’ve used the products from ASL in CA….the nasoneb machine with antibiotics, etc,. They’re nice and very helpful. However, I didn’t find the treatment to be very successful:( I have never talked to anyone else who has done it though.
Marie // Sep 1, 2010 at 7:50 pm
To Jill–Yes, what Wendy said. I’ve used the products from ASL in CA….the nasoneb machine with antibiotics, etc,. The people there were nice and very helpful. However, I didn’t find the treatment to be very successful:( I have never talked to anyone else who has done it though.
Megan // Sep 3, 2010 at 11:00 am
Thank you Kathrin .
I’ve talked to my doctors in my home town about using Zyvox before . None of them seem to want to use it on me. They say that I’m going to need a treatment that is too long to use Zyvox for. I recently moved to Gainesville to be with my finace’. So I am trying to get in with an Infectious disease doctor here. My dad knows a girl at his work that had MRSA really bad and they used Zyvox on her, and it worked wonders she said. I’ve heard very good things about it and would be more than happy to pay the extra money to keep myself my having to get PICC line after PICC line.
Thank you .
BJ // Sep 10, 2010 at 4:37 pm
My stepson has had mrsa for over 1 year in his sinus cavity and now it is almost to the brain, says the doctors. He has had a pic line for the same period of time and all and any medications that they thought could cure it but nothing has, could you please give us some answers or help. Thank you.
Donna // Sep 25, 2010 at 5:27 pm
I was recently diagnosed with mrsa in my sinuses and my dr initially gave me clindamycin. this did not clear it up so he just added another antibiotic, rifampin. I am to take both for a month. This is a very strong antibiotic and of cours has side effects, i too have family members that i am concerned about contracting this illness. I will see him mid-course thru the treatment and he said he will send me to an infectious disease dr if this does not work. I have copd and have been hospitalized many times for pneumonia and my concern is this infection reaching my lungs. How fast does this travel through body, should i see my pulmonary dr for advise on the situation or continue to trust my ENT doc?
Medical Editing // Mar 23, 2011 at 2:01 pm
my colleague’s nasal swab just tested positive for MRSA. He was advised T-BACT ointment for local application with routine hand sanitation. From the last two days he is suffering from running nose. He shows no other signs of infection. How worried should he be ?
Alison // Apr 15, 2011 at 3:54 pm
I have just had my 5th sinus surgery this past December. The first surgery corrected a deviated septum and removed bone and tissue that were blocking my sinuses. I did well for about 2 years after, then started having difficult to treat sinus infections. I have taken hundreds of rounds of antibiotics, steroids, nasal sprays, and over the counter medicines. The 2nd surgery removed a fungal infection. The 3rd surgery’s pathology came back to indicate pseudomonas and a fungal ball. The fungus could not be identified. After this surgery I was sent to an infection disease specialist (my ENT wanted them to put me in hospital and start IV antibiotic treatment). The ID would not do IV therapy because I was considered “chronic” instead of “acute” symptoms. I did start anti-fungal irrigations for awhile, but did not see much help. The 4th surgery came back as MRSA. Again, I was sent to ID, who did nothing. The 5th surgery came back as Staph and pseudomonas. I have also had recurrent polyps. Interestingly, I started having skin infections that the dermatologist tested, came back as pseudomonas and staph. (This was b/f my last surgery). The skin infections have started to reoccur, which makes me wonder if all of the sinus infection was removed during the last surgery. I am on allergy shots, because my ENT believes my allergies are the root cause of my sinus problems. I have constant headaches and stuffiness. I live off Sudafed, which does nothing once I develop a full-blown infection. I have even been to a Dr. at Duke, who said my ENT is doing everything right, but eventually I will probably have to have the “bad” sinus surgery, where they go in through the mouth and cut above the teeth. He says my sinuses will eventually become so diseased and thick that this will be the only option. I am so frustrated! I have been fighting this last infection for a month, and can’t afford to keep going to ENT and having the scope up my nose every time to identify the bacteria. Doctor and hospital bills are overwhelming me at this point, and I feel bad all the time. My allergist had my sinus tissues tested for cystic fibrosis and had the cilia in my nose tested for some disease I can’t remember the name of. They both came back negative. I don’t know what else to do, but need to get healthy! Can you think of anything else I can do? Or any other underlying condition that may be causing this? I have 3 kids and worry about them having problems because of me.
Carol // Apr 20, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I was recently diagnosed with MRSA in my sinus cavities. I had been on antibiotics for almost 3 months, with no remission of sinus symptoms. My doctor finally referred me to an ENT, who scoped my sinuses and took a sample of the mucous there. That sample is what returned positive for MRSA. I have been having recurring sinus infections and unexplained thick, sour drainage since 1997; I had surgery in 2006. Even after surgery, I continued to have recurring sinus problems and have taken every allergy drug known to man. I underwent allergy injections for 3 years. In 2008, I was scoped and diagnosed with a staph infection. My then-ENT gave me Levaquin. I continued to have sinus infections, so I asked for a retest to see if the staph infection had been cleared up. That dr told me: “Levaquin is a powerful antibiotic, and it should have taken care of the problem.” Eventually, I stopped going to that dr because I got tired of him taking my money and ignoring me. Now, I am waiting for a referral to an infectious disease specialist and I am wondering if I could have had a staph/MRSA infection for 3 years??? Even if I haven’t had it for 3 years, how dangerous is this? Could this be why I am so tired all the time? Could this MRSA infection be causing headaches and the constant pain behind my eyes and in my jaws? I’m now having intestinal problems, too. I am being treated/ tested for inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or Crohn’s disease. Is it possible that the sinus MRSA and my digestive problems could be related?
Amy // Jun 6, 2011 at 10:13 am
I am on my 3rd sinus infection in 3 months. Count me out of going to the Dr. It seems this, to almost all on this site, only helps the Dr.’s pocket. MRSA is anitbiotic resistant-that is one of the markers of diagnosis. My girlfriend had a necrotic wound on her leg-and her husband who is a nurse, diagnosed it as MRSA. I did some research and she used hydrogen perioxde-stopped the antibiotic ointment and it is now healing. I as well, believe mine has to do with a deep root canal that is infected into my jaw. It is 10 years old! What now?
Umzug Berlin // Aug 2, 2011 at 5:18 am
Hello there, I found your blog by the use of Google while looking for a similar matter, your website got here up, it seems good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Latisha // Oct 26, 2011 at 10:18 am
WOW I am lost for words. It is tear drenching to see so many others suffering as I. In MAY 2004 I went on vacation, where I first begain having an acute ear infection. After about 9 months of treatment I developed a swollen lympnode. I had it tested and it was cancerous. I was diagnosed with cancer of the nose and throat. I have been cancer free but still suffer from one side effect, chronic sinusitis. In January 2011 I was diagnosed with MRSA. I’ve been prescribed a series of antibiotic; some two at a time, along with two nasoneb antiobiotic and steroid combonation. I still have MRSA and I have taken over 10 different meds. I also have two young children who I am afraid of infecting. What do I DO!
Maureen // Jan 1, 2012 at 11:43 am
I also have had multiple sinus surgeries, been on excess of 60 courses of antibiotics, had a PICC line for 4.5 months for Invanz, and am currently culturing MRSA + pseudomonas in my maxillary sinuses. Yesterday, I started SMZ/TMP which my culture indicates sensitivity. My cultures are not done by the unreliable nasal swab but by suction of material from my sinus cavity. I, too, am tired of the smell/ taste issue and copious amounts of lime green, creamy nasal discharge which is in my lungs necessitating oxygen. I have had chronic sinus since 2003. This is my first MRSA as I usually grow bacteria from my GI tract. As this is attributed to reflux, I even had a Nissen fundoplication/hiatal hernia repair as a last ditch effort to prevent further sinus infection. That was 8 weeks ago and the IV was discontinued 6 weeks ago. My husband believes I have a nocosomial infection.
I empathize with the rest of you. The major abdominal procedure was a long shot recommended by my ENT, PCP, GI, ID, and surgeon. I wouldn’t do it again.
My immune system is now deficient and I will need IVIg to conquer this current problem.
Happy 2012 free of medical issues.
Happy new year free of medical issues.
Maureen // Jan 1, 2012 at 11:56 am
PS. My immunologist/pulmonologist at Natioal Jewish in Denver said the sinus nebs are not effective. I also own one of the $300 machines used only once. She called my ENT to have him stop the nebulizer and start oral antibiotics.
Peggy Jones // Jan 26, 2012 at 12:24 pm
WOW! Where do I begin with my story?? I am 72 years old and have been battling chronic sinus infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia for most of my life. If my story does nothing more than to assure you that “there is life after sinus disease” then it will be worth the time to write it. I have simply refused to let my sinuses rule or ruin my life. I am amazed at the number of sufferers of chronic sinus disease there are–I thought for years I was the only one. I began having asthma before I started to school, then began having terrible sinus infections while in high school. We were poor and did not consider this to be important enough to go to a doctor, so I just suffered. For the next 20 years, I suffered through many bouts of sinus infections which began to lead to ear infections and bronchitis; which may times led to pneumonia. I can account for between 12 and15 bouts with pneumonia–all stemming from constant sinus drainage and infections. When my fever rose above 102 I would go to a doctor who would prescribe various antibiotics, I would improve, and wait for the next bout. No one ever connected these infections and asthma to my sinus problems. Maybe because my family moved several times and I saw different doctors. Eventually, I had to have a tube placed in my left ear. Then, my sinus problem gradually disappeared. For about 10 years, I had no sinus drainage; however continued to have COPD symptoms, My childhood asthma had returned and I ignored it until I could hardly walk up stairs. Finally, I began having left-side headaches every day. My primary doctor worked and got my asthma under control and began investigating the source of my headaches. I had no signs of sinus drainage, so he concluded that that was not the problem. After two years of various doctors and tests, a MRI revealed a mass in the sinus area. It turned out that years ago, a polyp had completely blocked my left side sinuses and the drainage openings had grown shut and the cavities were filled with hardened mucus– much like old hardened leather–and had eaten into the bone above my left eye. To compact this story, it took 3 major surgeries within 6 months–a total of nearly 10 hours of surgery–to dig out and strip off this hardened material. This was 12 years ago, and I have had sinus infections almost continually since that time, probably due to the pitting and scarring of my sinus linings. I have continued having the COPD with many various antibiotics. After a 10-day hospitalized bout with pneumonia, the pulmonary doctor sent me back to the ENT doctor who did 2 more surgeries–this time on the syphnoid sinus. Sometime along the way I developed MRSA. I probably had it before they put a name to it. No one told me–I just happened to find it out. They “didn’t want to worry me”!!! Currently, I have just finished a 14 day treatment of Zyvox, which didn’t help until the very last day of treament, so don’t know if it truly “cured” it or not. I take many prescriptions, allergy shots, and have either become allergic to or immune to most antibiotics. It has not ever invaded my bloodstream, nor have I had meningitis from it, so I feel fortunate. Don’t give up your fight against this disease and don’t let it rule your life. Despite this chronic condition, I have lived a very productive life–school teacher for 34 years, raised a family and been privilege to visit all 50 states!! God bless all of you and may He help research find a complete cure for all of you!!!
Leave a Comment