Helping you to Respond to Infections

MRSA (mersa, staff, staph) Watch helps patients, medical staff and health industry professionals monitor the latest MRSA news via a unique directory of article excerpts and links to further information. Click the bold links below for the latest news with respect to that subject. Recent headlines can be found here. Our article index is to your right.

What is MRSA?
There are 3 different types of Staphylococcus Aureus (SA) infection in the general population. Simple SA bacteria (it is not a virus) can be found on the bodies of up to 30% of the general population. It caused many problems before the use of antibiotics made wound recovery a safer process. Hospital acquirred SA is generally resistant to several antibiotics but especially Methicillin, hence the name MRSA. This is found in about 1% of the population.

Community Acquirred MRSA (CA MRSA) is often found in otherwise healthy people, is a different strain of MRSA, mainly causes skin infections and is treatable by more drugs at this time. CA MRSA seems to be more infectious - should it become resistant to more antibiotics it could pose a considerable public health risk. Many people carry or are 'colonised' by SA bacteria but only suffer when they have another illness or suffer a small wound that the bacteria can grow in and infect them.

How do people catch MRSA?
There are several ways it is believed to spread.

• Hand carriage - this is why hospital staff are encouraged to wash their hands after each patient.
• Contaminated surfaces - this is why clean hospital wards are vital.
• Via medical instruments - this is why many now have special coatings or have silver elements. This discourages lingering residies and/or kills external infection entering the wound
• Via airborne particles - MRSA often resides in the nasal passages and can spread with colds and flu as a secondary infection that may be dormant for some while.
• Shared items - Families or other close knit groups sharing a facility such as military personnel, a sports team or prison inmates may share hygiene items such as towels etc. This is another vector for the spread of the bacteria
• Needles - Drug users sharing needles may be passing on MRSA alongside HIV or Hepatitis C. The same could be said of tattoo artists who do not have strict hygiene regimes.
• Sexual Intimacy - the nose, groin and underarms are key colonisation areas for the bacteria. Sex workers and the habitually promiscous will be super spreaders in a society in much the same way as they are for AIDS.

How is it treated?
There are 3 key treatment regimes that are commonly used.

• For those who are colonised - a nasal treatment and a skin wash
• For those who have a potential or active bloodstream infection - drugs such as Vancomycin, Linezolid or Daptomycin.
• For those with infected wounds - special honey, silver bandages, garlic preparations and tea tree oil are all believed to be effective in killing MRSA in a wound.

How can it be prevented
The media often focus on clean hospitals and clean hands as a key to combating MRSA. Others believe that this will only cut cases by 30% and that a diverse strategy is vital and will include:

• Clean Wards - especially surfaces and keyboards.
• Staff Screening - are they super carriers?
• Patient Screening - so that they can be de colonised and to avoid self infection.
• Hospital Equipment - because it can take the infection deep into a wound.
• Air Hygiene - to help prevent nasal colonisation
• Hand Hygiene - to prevent transport from patient to patient
• Antibiotic Restraint - because resistance grows from over prescription
• The Food Chain - is resistance also provoked by over use in the animals that we eat?
• Patient Isolation - this helps lesson the potential risk of airborne infection
• Lifestyle Choices - needle injected drugs and multiple sexual partners help spread chronic illnesses that emerge slowly

What can I do

• Stay informed - this site and several others can help you do this
• Ask others via our MRSA Watch forum
• Act locally by becoming involved in patient advocacy or patient/hospital forums
• Seek justice - do you need to take legal action because of neligence or do we all need to speak up for communities who are being hit by CA MRSA but are underinsured and often powerless.

Comments

[Kathleen R]

My husband (54 years of age)was admitted to a southern california hospital for cardiac surgery, a 6 day stay turned into 6 weeks and ultimately he died from MRSA contracted during his stay. His death has been devasting to my family. I also work in the medical profession and I trusted the hospital I sent my husband to, to take care of him, keep him well and send him home. I have contacted an attorney and the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff to prove he contracted the disease during his hospitalization and then prove if the superbug had been identified earlier if his death could have been avoided!

[Sobacki]

I am a white male 67 years of age. Since June , 2004 I have had open heart surgery, colen restructure, ostomy take down, surgery to repair 5 hernias, and shoulder surgery to repair the rotory cuff and remove bone spure cluster. The shoulder surgery was performed in Aug. 2005. I have had three more wash out surgeries on the shoulder because of a MRSA infection. I also have noticed the the staff of the hospitals are very careless about washing thier hands before they work on me and after they completed to work. After the third wash out of the shoulder I had another infection of the site 6 days after the wash out. I am presently taking 600 mg clindamycin HLC three times a day. The doctor removed two of the stiches at the site of the infection and forced drainage. I was told to go home (this was Friday) and run my shower water on the site and squeeze the site while in the shower. After the shower I continue to squeeze the site until no more fluid is present. This seems to be working for now. I was set up with appointment with the doctor for the following Monday to see if this was working. I do not wait long if I see any sign of the infection. This is one bad bug and I hope it does not turn to the bad for me.

[Ian]

Following the investigation of a sputum sample I decided to take to my g.p., and a straightforward chest x-ray, I have been told I have mrsa in my lung. Within two days my g.p. had written to the hospital. I am now waiting for a ct scan + consultant.

Anyone out there had this ?

I have a dental appointment early September - two teeth have to come out and be replaced with crowns. I am somewhat concerned at have 'wounds' in my mouth and I will check things with the g.p. In the meantime, anyone out there been through this ?

[Deborah]

I am a 35 yr old healthy woman who has community acquired MRSA. I thought at first it was a brown recluse bite. I am a single mother of two children so am frequently exposed to schools, shopping, the general public, etc. My Father is an electronmicroscopist and I have always been keenly aware of the unseen forces of life. So I wash my hands frequently. I can not help but wonder what the use of all of these antibiotic hand soaps is doing to our environment.
I have several flesh eating lesions on my leg and am quite baffled. My children have nothing. And no one around me has this. It's true I work too hard and don't sleep as much as i should. Either way, we can't control what other people do, wash their hands or not. We can educate people by spreading the word of this bacteria. My situation pales in comparison to the hospital acquired MRSA but I am living proof that ANYONE can get it.

[Wayne]

I got CA-MRSA 8/19/06. Mine was misdiagnosed as spider bite, common cellulitis and others as well. It's 9/11 today and first received Zyvox. I'm hoping for a great outcome and few side effects.

[Nancy]

My mom passed away on September 6, 2006. She had emergency surgery on her gut and was doing good and all of a sudden she contracted MRSA and MRSE. She was put on a ventilator because she developed pnuemonia. She lasted 6 days...I am so hurt and angry because this did not need to happen. I want someone to pay for this and will seek some form of legal advise.

[Amanda]

There is a baby 3 monthes old in a chattanooga childrens hospital, he is dieing he has MRSA. None of the antibotics are helping him he has died once already. If there is anyone reading this thats knows of something that might help cure this baby please send an e-mail, of how to get in touch w/ you. The baby has fought hard and been through a couple of surgrys to get fluid off of him he is fighting so please if you can suggest anything that we can suggest the docotor try let us know.

[Michelle]

My mom has copd. She acquired a cold and her lungs collasped. She was healthy before the cold basically. She has been in ICU for 4 weeks and now acquired MRSA in her trache/ventilator tract. She is on Vancomyocin. She is having a difficult time keeping her O2 sats above 90 and her Blood Gases are not good. I am scared for her. She is only 58. Her wbc is 22,000. She does not have a fever. ANy suggestions to help her?

[Shari]

I have a friend that is 25 and a single mom. She contracted MRSA and was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. She had surgery to remove the infected area of the boil and has a tube that is suppose to be draining for 3 months. She is suppose to be going to the doctor every few days for it to be cleaned and such.. she is not! Today she told me that it is in her leg too! I am at a lost as to what to do. I have told her straight out if she does not get back to the doctor and do as she is supposed too she will leave her son without a mother!

I do not know too much about MRSA... am reading what I can on the net, that is how I found this site. ANy advice or facts you can share would greatly be appreciated!

[Dave Roberts]

It is vital that she goes for the sake of her health but also the health of her friends and family. If this infection is not dealt with she will be more likely to infect others.

MRSA rarely kills which is why some can be complacent. But if the old, the young or the already ill get it it can be very serious.

The key issue is that she has a responsibility to others. It may only feel like a boil to her but it could be fatal to someone else

Hope this is helpful

Dave Roberts
MRSA Watch

[julie dudley]

my 85yr old aunt went into hospital 6months ago with a broken hip,she contracted MRSA & consequntly lost her hip and some of the adjoining bone.She is left with a leg 4inches shorter and totally incapacitated and now living in a nursing home.How angry this has made me as she was a totally independant lady who took care of herself completely. At one point my cousin, who like myself was taking washing home,took a bag of what she thought was washing and tipped the contents into her washer, the contents being soiled incontinent pads which i might add had been put into my aunts locker and we think the nightdresses disposed of. Totally disgusting!

[Tina Gruden]

My dad went to the hospital for pneumonia and was diagnosed with MRSA. He has had throat cancer, his carotid artery has ruptured, he has had a trach, and he had an allergic reaction to some medicine in the hospital and went 11 hours with this reaction without a nurse noticing. And now this. Plus he can't eat anything he drinks nutritional drinks and thats it for almost 5 years. So his health is terrible. The doctors say the MRSA is gone but he keeps getting thrush and his memory is now going. I don't know if his memory loss has anything to do with MRSA but I'm scared. I'm his caregiver and I'm literally with him from the time he wakes up 4:30-5:00 every morning until the second he goes to bed 11:00-12:00. I'm so overwhelmed and scared that he has not gotten rid of the MRSA and his memory loss and he's getting emotional and anger outbursts. So I need some help what do I do? How do I know it's gone. If anyone can get it from him I can. I bathe him and do everything for him. He sits in a chair his whole life. He's on oxygen and has COPD also. I need some emotional support and help. How do I know it's gone and does it have anything to do with memory loss? If anyone has any answers or just wants to be my friend please let me know. I know this comment is all over the place but I'm so overtired and overworked I don't think straight anymore. HELP PLEASE!

[Pamela Bauer]

I am a young, fit 35 yr. old mother of six boys and I have MRSA. I have no idea where I contracted it. I woke up on a Wednesday morning with a very high fever and severe pain. I had a spot on my upper right chest wall. With in 24 hours I was admitted to our local hospital and taken immediately to surgery to cut out the infected area. My condition seriously worsened in a short amount of time (all the while being on i.v. vanco and morphin for pain) and I was transferred to Ohio State University Hospital. I had mrsa on my lung, fluid around my lungs, mrsa in my joint by my collar bone, in my thoracic artery and collarbone. This was two months ago. I was hospitalized for over two weeks. I am currently being treated at home with vanco. through an I.V. central line twice a day and have visiting nurses once a week. I continue to be under a doctor's care and will be for awhile. If I can get this, anyone can. I am a very "have it together" woman. I have a very clean home and a healthy lifestyle. This continues to be an amazing journey for me and my family. For those of you with MRSA just stay positive and it is extemely important to keep in contact with your doctor. It can kill you or god forbid you give it to someone else (maybe a child) and it kills them. I believe that mrsa can affect you in so many ways that I am not sure doctor's really even know. I even lost muscle control in my right upper arm and neck area and had physical therapy in the hospital. For those of you lucky enough to just have your site drained and be given oral antibiotics - count your blessings. I think awareness is vitally important. Before I contracted MRSA I had never heard of it.....

[Becky]

My grandmother has just been diagnosed with MRSA, she is in a nursing home, they tell me she got it from having pink eye. I took my Rat Terrier, who my grandmother loves, to see her two days ago, then yesterday, they quarantined my grandmother and told us she has MRSA. Is there any link between pink eye and MRSA? How fast does it manifest? Is there any link between dogs and MRSA and should I be concerned if my son, myself or the little dog now have it from visiting her two days ago? I will be visiting by myself today, will be very precautious. Any information would be helpful.

[Mindy]

My mother was in and out of ER's this summer, so I was too. She turned out to have a rare lung infection called Nocardia, which is treated with Bactrim for up to a year. Some time during her illness I picked up CA-MRSA. I got a boil on the back of my neck, then later one on my bum, then later one on my head. The third time we did a culture and found out it was CA-MRSA. I had been treated with Keflex and Oxycycline. After a nasal swab came up positive I was given Bactrim, which I turned out to be allergic to, broke out in splotches, got a sore throat, ran a fever.

I now have pink eye. I'm wondering too if it is related to the MRSA.This all started in May of this year.

[Lonnie]

I'm an active 37 year old healthy male. On a Wednesday in early August I stepped in a hole in the ground at my son's football practice resulting in a pain in my lower back that I figured must be a muscle pull. The next day (Thursday) I was in so much pain that my wife ended up taking me to the emergency room that evening. They did some x-rays and told me that it was likely a muscle spasm pinching my sciatic nerve. The ER doctor told to make an appointment with my PCP on that coming Monday. He said I needed an MRI which I had later Monday evening. Tuesday evening I was in so much pain that I couldn't move my arms or legs without severe pain shooting through my lower back and my left leg. I was admitted to the hospital that night. After being in the hospital for 4 or 5 days I was finally told that a staph infection was behind my pain. There was a larger than grapefruit sized mass of infection in my SI joint. It was also in my right shoulder. After 10 weeks of IV antibiotics (2 weeks in the hospital and 8 at home) the infection appears to have vacated my body. My lower back is feeling much better but after 2 months of therapy I feel like my should is not getting any better. I was told that the infection in my shoulder was small and not that serious yet 3 and a half months later I can barely raise my arm above my shoulder and it hurts constantly. My orthopedic doctor says the pain is due to scar tissue left in the muscles and joint of my shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. Is this a common thing to happen to a body joint after a staph infection? I feel like more is going but it maybe that I'm just so frustrated that after 2 months of therapy my arm only feels like a fraction of what I feel it should be.

[Billie Thomas]

My daughter and her husband have been fighting staph infections. Antibiotics weren't working. As soon as the antibiotics stopped, the boils came back. After some research, I decided to try garlic. We put minced garlic (the kind you buy at the grocery store in a jar) on a bandaid and put it on the boil. Within 24 hours, there was marked improvement. You might give this a try. I certainly won't hurt anything and could very well help.

[Jane]

I just found two boils on my arm. I went to the doctor and it is MRSA. He has me on Bactrim and it did not work. He added Levotrim*may be misspelled, and my arm still looks swollen and burned. The sores are still there. I now have a leg that feels so sore when I walk. Are they conected? Can I die from this? I am strating to panick. Any thing you all recommend?

[Sheila]

Jane, the the 2nd antibiotic you mentioned was Levaquin. It is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible, since you are still experiencing symptoms and are having problems with your leg. The two could be connected. Did your doctor drain the sores/abcesses on your arm? For an abcess to heal, it usually has to be drained and possibly packed with gauze. Wound care is very important, as well as taking ALL of the antibiotic. My doctor uses Dakins' solution, which is a bleach solution made for wound care. Many doctors will refer someone that has had MRSA to an infectious disease specialist. It's also important to note that someone can die from MRSA infection, so prompt medical treatment is key.

[Jane]

Thank you so much for responding. A week later, the two sores are still there. However, they have popped and are smaller, but still red and irritated. I am still taking medication Bactrim and Bactrim cream ointment. I was told to spray alcohol too. I do plan to schedule an appt with a specialist. Hopefully they can see me soon. By the way, the soreness in my leg has subsided.

[Peggy]

Help. I need advice. I had basil cell skin cancer out- patient surgery on a leg in November. Bottom of lower leg, front of shin, close to ankle. I've always healed wonderfully. This wound became infected and was diagnosed as MRSA.

I asked my primary doc if it was infected in the beginning. He said, yes looks like it and put another bandaid on it. Then when I went back to the surgeon she ordered cultures and it was MRSA. Since then, I've been on two different anti-biotics. During the last one it did decrease in size and got better. But it is still infected, still a hole in my leg, still bloody and sore and still painful.

I am at my wit's end. I can't take it anymore. I emailed my surgeon last night and told her I want to see a specialist, try light therapy, maggots, I don't care. I can't live like this. I am an exercise instructor and athlete and this is affecting my work and MY LIFE. I also have a mechanical aortic valve and am very worried about this infection getting in my bloodstream and affecting my heart. People like me with artificial valves are at risk for endocarditis. That's why we take anti-biotics prior to dental work. The surgeon has said several times I don't have to worry about this. I don't believe her.

Unfortunately for me, I have Kaiser, where you are just a number, not a human. I don't know what to do next. I cannot afford to see a specialist on my own. I am so depressed, tired and scared.

[Chris Walker]

Hello,
I read an interesting article in the Journal of Environmental Health by "Gabriel Bitton" which shows that 99% of Germs on a dish or floor cloth can be killed by putting them in a microwave for 3 or 4 minutes. This might be a way of helping in the fight against MRSA if all the hospital cleaners regularly put their cloths into microwaves....

[Cindy]

Dear Peggy:

Ask your doctor about Zyvox, it can be given through an IV or in pill form. It is very expensive, but worth every penny!!! My husband suffered from MRSA and he took this antibiotic and it worked. I also put him on a large dose of acidophlus and 5000mg of garlic, which helps replace your good bacteria. When you are on an antibiotic, as my husband was for almost a year before the MRSA, an infection can take hold because the antibiotic has not only killed the bad bacteria, but the good as well.

Another idea: 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in half a glass of warm water 3x a day. Continue for several days or more if you have recurring MRSA boils. Turmeric, a traditional Ayurvedic spice of India, is anti-inflammatory and a blood purifier. This can be found in any Indian grocery store.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[Shari]

My 18-month old was treated for CA-MRSA about 4 months ago- Her treatment seems to have worked sucessfully.

Does anyone know if this means she is ok for life now?
WHAT IS THE RECCURENCE rates OF CA-MRSA?

I still panic at every cut, cold etc she gets now & I would feel so much better if I know for sure she is "cured".
Thanks to all who answer.

[jane]

my dad has got mrsa on his chest . he has been in hospital for nearly 5 months now, he was only in there for 2 wks at the most. you see he has parkinsons disease and his brain is shrinking at the front of his head. there has been a lot of people in the hospital who have got mrsa, it does make you wonder what is going on. my family all have to wear aprons and gloves,i hate it he doesnt realise why we wear them,i dont want him to think that we dont want to be near him.may be everyone that visits hospitals should be made to wear aprons and gloves.does anyone no what happens to people with mrsa that is on someones chest??????? would really like to hear more about this please. thankyou

[Tammy]

I need some advice!! My 7 year old son had staph infection most of last summer, my 8 year old daughter had it and my husband actually had a flesh eating staph. It was a horrible summer. They were all given Bactrim and Keflex and it took care of it. Now my son yesterday has shown me a spot on his leg and I think it's staph again. He always complains of leg pain. I've always chalked it up as maybe "growing pains" but I'm not sure anymore. Could there be any link here with the staph infection? especially with him getting it again. Hmmmm? Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
Tammy

[J Smith]

My daughter broke her leg in 2 places 2 weeks ago. Surgery was preformed on Wed afternoon and she was sent home the very same day with no antibiotics. She was in so much she had to have her pain medication refilled 3 times. She called the doctors office several times out of concern about the pain and was told this was normal. She was never told that she might need to come in to let them look at the incisions. Well on Tuesday of this week she went to get the staples out and they put her back in the hospital for more surgery. They went in and cleaned out the incision and a vaccum pump was put on the area to draw out the infection. The morning of the 2nd. surgery her nose was swabbed. She was told she had MRSA. She has no insurance is being treated very badly by the Dr. He has been in her room twice and told her she needs to be thinking about how she is going to pay for the expensive medicine. I am going out of my mind with worry. I am afraid she might lose her leg.

[sharon]

My husband, age 59, got MRSA from back surgery. He had an herneated disc had surgery, One week later another surgery, doral tear, 4 days later another surgery, dorel tear. He is in a rehab hosp. can't walk or sit. He is in alot of pain and taking lots and lots of pain meds. Rehab is slow and they want to kick him out. He is on anti-biotics daily. It has been 3 weeks. How do I know that Ft Myers hosp is doing the correct procedures for the back and staph pain? Is there a specialty hosp for this?

[sharon]

My husband has been in the hosp for 3 weeks. He is 59. He had 3 back surgeries in a week and a half. Contacted staph infection. Is now in rehab for a week. He is alot of pain, taking lots of pain meds, and can't walk or sit for more than 5 minutes. He is in a rehab hosp. They want to kick him out because rehab is so slow. I don't want to put him in a nursing home and he con't come home because of the daily dosage of antibiotics. Insurance won't pay for them unless thay are administered in a medical facility. He can's walk or get in or our of a car. Is there a special hosp. that deals with staph disease and/or rehab after staph disease? Help

[Nelda]

well, here is another story to tell. My 48 year old sister, had a stroke in April 06, my mother and I went to see her in the hospital, where she was in a room with an older lady, who had a hip replacement, the lady was to go home on or about the next day (sat), but instead the Dr. takes her back to the OR, where he culture's her and this culture comes back with MRSA.
In, June 06, I get an abcess under my left arm, and go to the ER, where my Dr. cuts it open, but NO culture was taken. So, we don't know at that time what caused this. The next week, my sister, goes to have a pedport placed, and the nurse took a sputum culture, and guess what this test came back that she has MRSA, in her lungs.
So, we go on living till I start getting this scores on my leg, after I, could shave my legs. I, ask some people about this, I have no medical insc. So, someone told me that I needed to get an elect. razer, instead of using reg. razer. okay? In, Oct. 06, I get 2 large abcess's one on my back and one on my right thigh. Had, to go to the hospital, where the Dr. tells my mother to get on the phone, and call the church people to pray, I was that bad....So, at least he was a good Dr. and took cultures and guess what? It came back MRSA....
After, thinking things where getting better for me. I was back in the hospital, again in Dec. 06, this crap, had returned in the thigh again. Try to get back to some kind of life, that is now a JOKE.
In, March 07, was back in the hospital, again bacause my right leg started swelling and those scores bust open. Here, we go again. Now, it's April 07, I, go to the DR. because of the pain in my right leg, is so, bad it fell's like i have needles just trying to get out of my body.by the way, leg is still swelling, when I try to set up in the chair.Now, he tells me that the nerve's are beening affected by this. They, (who-ever ) they are says life so on,
Well, it has been 6 months, I have not worked, because my job is driving a pilot car for oversize loads, with semi's. we drive 500-600 miles a day. can't do that because the leg swells, to bad.Well now you say go get help... from WHO? our nice goverment says that I need prof that I will not be able to drive for a year or longer. Help, to pay the almost $30,000.00 worth of medical bills and 6 Dr's I have seen. No, that will not work either.
Talk about going crazy? yes, I am almost to the point that I will be better of dead, going to end up there someday I guess.
Try, to find a lawyer to see if my sister and I have a case against this hospital? can't find in the state we live, (KY). if, you can call just try getting up out of the bed, every day and going to the reclainer living.
thanks, for giving me the time to air out my thoughts and sadness.Only
people that has this knows that heart ache and pain that you can go though. again thanks..

[Skatha]

Can MRSA potentially be spread via oral sex?

A few days after receiving oral sex from my partner, I notice a small pimple that grow enormous very quickly. Following InD, the culture came back as MRSA.

Although I work in a hospital, this seems a strange place to manifest considering how meticulous I am about hand washing/sanitizing.

I am wondering if he should be cultured nasally and potentially treated?

[h5n1watcher]

http://tahilla.typepad.com, for some reason, is not processing its subscription requests either for mrsawatch or birdflu (broken subscription link on the http://tahilla.typepad.com/birdflu/2005/11/bird_flu_news_f.html#comment-68929026 page).

[chris valdez]

I need some freken help. I believe i got the staph infections from my roomate last year and they keep comming back every 2 to 3 months. keep on going to the doctors and they gave me bactrim and keflex which they say it will work. I was hoping it would go away which the doctors said but it was a bunch of bullshit. iam sick of this because now i got 4 infections in my leg as of now and i dont want to spread this crap. what the hell should i do because iam in desperate need of help

[John]

I have had 6 boils in the last year, after this last Dr. visit my Dr. tells me I have MRSA, I had most of my boils on my butt, So i went and had this last one lanced and to the Dr. the next day, well the head of my penis started turning red and before long a blister popped up, Thats when she in formed me of mrsa. She gave me bactrim, bactriban and something that starts with a c.
How long does it take for the infection to go away once you're on antibiotics. And are they going to keep coming back??

[Emma]

For those of you that are just finding boil or stys, I have a few tips: have a bath with saltwater every day to treat the boils you have and prevent new ones, don't ever touch your nose or armpits without washing your hands after, drink lots of fluid, reduce your stress (I do yoga).

[Emma]

For those of you that are just finding boil or stys, I have a few tips: have a bath with saltwater every day to treat the boils you have and prevent new ones, don't ever touch your nose or armpits without washing your hands after, drink lots of fluid, reduce your stress (I do yoga).

[Samantha]

I have been battling MRSA since December 2006. They appear as a large boil. They get bery red, swollen and hot. I have had 18-20 from my legs to my head (and everywhere in between). I have done BACTRUM antibiotics 3x's. I've done the nasal cremes, I've done the creme under the nails, I've done the stuff you shower with.. I've popped and drained them myself.. I am soooo tired of having them. I have all these tiny scars from then and now I have an infant in my home to worry about. I want all of this to just stop. I have on under my arm pit. I can't raise my arm or move it. I just returned from the ER, it's not ready to be drained, so I was given an antibiotic and vicodin... ENOUGH all ready! Please send any advice you can my way!

[ROSIE ROSE]

MY TWO YEAR OLD SON HAD A PLACE LOOKING LIKE A BOIL CAME UP ON HIS GROIN AREA... THE DR. DONE A NASAL SWAB & SAID IT WAS + FOR MRSA... HE IS ON ALLERGY SHOTS AND HAS CHRONIC ASTHMA... HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS OUT OF HIS BLOOD STEAM....