<p>D has had a staph infection ever since she was in India- however it took months before she was concerned enough to go to a Dr - ( it is all over her but relatively mild)- hard to diagnose without lab tests.</p>
<p>In the late summer, she was treated with antibiotics right before she went off to school, but while it cleared up a little/came back.
THe health clinic at her school sent her to a dermatologist, that prescribed Cephalexin & a nasal gel and recommended Hibiclens ( which I am looking for)</p>
<p>Especially since our neighbor has had skin problems that her dr thought might have origins in her home ( so she has temporarily moved) , I am concerned about how long she has had it.</p>
<p>Has anyone else had to deal with this- she is living with a roommate and they do have a washer/dryer in their apt. I am going to stress she wash a lot- but what else can she do?
:(</p>
<p>Has it been determined for sure to not be MRSA? My oldest son had long-standing sinus issues and finally they cultured what was going on (gross, I know) and it was MRSA. He had a pic line inserted and did 6 weeks of IV antibiotics (the only thing that, at the time, would work on the thing). It did clear up…</p>
<p>Research has shown that the Hibiblens and nasal gel don’t do much. Main thing is not to share towels or razors. Remember, the more rounds of antibiotics you get, the better chances of the Staph to mutate to MRSA. In addition, your removing healthy bacteria from skin. You might want to try pro-biotics, healthy bacteria such as Culturelle to help. It is a huge debate amongst infectious disease specialists. Chances are if Cephalexin helps, it is not MRSA.</p>
<p>she had the combo staph oral antibiotics before that helped- and her dr told her to quit shaving so I hope she is doing that.
I don’t think she shares anything- & neither my H or I got it this summer when she was home- but I am concerned that it is taking so long to get rid of.</p>
<p>It is a little ironic, since she didn’t even take antibiotics when she had ear infections as a toddler ( she made herself cry so hard she threw up, so I used garlic oil instead of that " yucky pink medicine") We are not the reason why bacteria has gone bonkers :)</p>
<p>I will call the naturopath who originally diagnosed it ( before the culture- she then went to an MD), to see what else she could be doing.</p>
<p>I think if you use the Hibiclens properly it should help & if you take baths rather than showers and use alcohol to spray down the bathroom after.
We used either Betadine or Hibiclens to wash everytime we saw our D in the NICU , so that smell takes me back 28 years.</p>
<p>I am assuming that she did culture staph- as the original MD did not prescribe anything until after the test.
I don’t know what it is resistant to- she hasn’t told me & I doubt she thought to ask.</p>
<p>However she has told me it was not MRSA and as the cephalexin wouldn’t be effective against that, I am assuming that is not what she has.
It is very mild, a few spots but stubborn.</p>
<p>I think it should improve a lot if she stops shaving her legs, that seemed to be the place I most noticed it. She doesn’t even have dark/thick hair, but says she sweats too much if she doesn’t ( she has tactile issues)</p>
<p>Our DD has intermittent skin outbreaks (probable staph infection, not cultured) that respond to topical antibacterial cream , bactroban I think. She tends to pick at her skin and that is not helpful in controlling the outbreaks. </p>
<p>I would imagine that the nasal gel is Bactroban nasal gel, which isn’t really to treat what she has but rather to keep her from being a carrier. Bactroban ointment used topically is effective against strep and MRSA. Although it generally takes more than Bactroban to wipe out MRSA. If it is just regular Staph I would imagine Bactroban ointment would be helpful.</p>
<p>Oldman, in 50 years of GP, deveoped a theory that zits, bedsores, and leg/arm wounds heal slowly because of hormonal imbalance-specifically high blood sugar. Sugar being a food source of S. aureus .</p>
<p>Eat less starches, sugar, and more protein and vegetables. Atkins diet.</p>
<p>update- I went to see her yesterday- to bring her Hibiclens & Betadine ( for washing) & some kefir & probiotics- since she doesn’t have a car & it is hard to shop.</p>
<p>( oh I forgot to smell it… I had to wash my hands with that for 8 weeks when oldest was born & had to be in isolation- it’s interesting how the smells trigger memories)</p>
<p>I thought that her sores looked a lot worse, since I had seen her a few weeks ago & I texted the director of the health clinic who has been VERY helpful in contacting her & getting her in to see them.
( much more so than me making a suggestion - I have been very impressed)
She is having a blood test Wednesday- which I suggested- so she will go from there.</p>
I had to wash my hands with that for 8 weeks when oldest was born & had to be in isolation- it’s interesting how the smells trigger memories)</p>