Questions about Staph/MRSA
sableincal
8 years ago
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jlc712
8 years agoRelated Discussions
question for eibren on staph bacteria and excema
Comments (8)I would tend to defer to Brendan and Eric on medical matters, because they appear to have more medical training than I do. There is a skin cleanser hospitals often use for people who have staph wounds, called Dakins Solution. It is a mixture of plain Chlorox Chlorine and a buffer (Epsom Salts, I think). You can purchase it over-the-counter in some drugstores, although it might have to be special ordered, and there is also a recipe for it on the internet somewhere. Anyone who suspects they might have a staph skin infection could cautiously use that on a small lesion or two to see what happens. If it heals up, it can be used on other spots. If acne is a problem, Cetaphyl skin cleanser is non-comedonic. It is also gentler than soap on healing skin, and can be partially left on as a moisturizer. A lot of dermatologists recommend it. Most drugstores have it, and BJ's (and probably Sam's club) sell it in larger quantities maybe a bit cheaper. You have to be gentle with skin. If you scrub it too hard with harsh things, you can make a suspected infection worse, or cause one that wasn't previously there. The "acid mantle" it forms to repel germs should not be removed by over-washing. I read somewhere that doctors used to think that the bacteria on peoples'skin stayed pretty much the same, but they are beginning to believe that it shifts and changes just like any other ecosystem. How much sleep you get, what you eat, where you go, what pets you have, and what you do all affect skin health. I knew a woman with terrible eczema who lost all of her eczema after she married. Apparently, though, you can carry a particular form of staph for at least a year, because if someone comes down with indications of MRSA (a tough variety of staph) within a year after an operation, the hospital where the person was operated on tends to be assumed to be the source. We have lots of bacteria on our skin, and much of it is probably neutral or beneficial, protecting us from worse things. One of the problems with antibiotics is that we lose much of our good bacteria, internally and externally, when we take them. It is always a good idea to be especially attendant to hygeine and avoidant of places with a lot of unfamiliar bacteria (such as public pools, etc.) for awhile after undergoing antibiotic therapy. Some people with bacterial problems find taking things like yoghurt and buttermilk to be helpful....See MoreInteresting article about how Norway eliminated MRSA
Comments (7)I have said for years..way before MRSA was a common problem, the antibiotics are over used/prescribed and it starts with INFANTS! People run their kids to the Dr. at the 1st sign of a sniffle. They almost always leave with a few prescriptions..one of them being an antibiotic! Most sniffles will last 3-7 days with or without meds! Honestly, I can count on 1 hand the times I took my kids to the Drs. Both of them are healthy as can be now. If and when they have to have an antibiotic now, it starts working almost immediately! It's scary to think we start medicating our kids almost from birth, then they grown up with immune systems that can't fight off even a minor infection. I also never gave my kids anything for a "fever" until it got to 102* or higher. A fever is the body's way of naturally fighting infections....See MoreQuestions about back surgeries...little long
Comments (19)Patti - My mom, who turned 70 this past February, had major back surgery last October. My mom has had back problems for probably 30 years. During that time, she's worn a tinge unit, had I don't know how many pain shots and a whole host of other pain management treatments. She was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and the doctors told her years ago that the day would come when the pain management would stop working and she'd have to either live on heavy duty pain pills for the rest of her life or have surgery. She went for a pain shot in August 2007 and said she knew when she left the doctor's office that it wasn't working because in every case before, she had instant relief. She ended up having surgery the first part of October. I'm not going to tell you that it was easy for her - it wasn't. Mother is overweight which is a strike against her right there, but I will have to say that she did better than I EVER thought she would. My stepdad is a gem and was right by her side the entire time. She had a brace that she had to wear every single time she got up, even if it was in the middle of the night and she had to go to the bathroom - she had to put it on, and she had to do that until April. She said she has no regrets at all about having it done and her quality of life is so much better. We were at their house a few Saturdays ago for dinner and I saw her bend completely over to pour clean water in her dog's bowl - she didn't even flinch. I honestly think if my mother can do it, almost anyone can. I hope Denny decides to go through with it. Yes, it's hard at first, but once you get through those first few weeks, it gets better. And I will say that I was against mother having the surgery because I'd heard all the horror stories of back surgery from years ago. I have another friend that I use to work with - she's my mother's age, and she had the exact same surgery 2 years ago. She said it was the best thing she's ever done - she had hers done in October and the following April went on an around the world cruise. Good luck with the decision. Please keep us posted....See MoreMRSA
Comments (20)There are carriers who aren't in the hospital. Every time they are admitted to our hospital they're put in an isolation room to protect our other patients who have low immune systems. They aren't isolated when coming in for a doctor's appointment though, and they walk around with you in grocery stores, on the street, etc...Washing your hands is the best way to prevent infection or becoming a carrier yourself. Wash before you eat or touch your face, (rub your eyes or nose). There are other carriers of other antibiotic resistant infections also, not just MRSA. Wash your hands. I thought for sure I would have it just from being in contact with patients long before they were diagnosed, sometimes it took a day or two before the results showed up or sometimes they were missed. I was negative last time I was admitted to another hospital....See MoreAnnie Deighnaugh
8 years agolocaleater
8 years agoUser
8 years agosableincal
8 years agoneetsiepie
8 years agosableincal
8 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
8 years agosableincal
8 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
8 years agoOakley
8 years agosableincal
8 years agoOakley
8 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
8 years agosableincal
8 years ago
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