tridd forums

If you've been watching CNN or other news sources, you may be aware of a certain new strain of staph infection that is causing some concern around the country. Lest you think the Tyler area is exempt... I wanted to make you aware that it is here, too. A friend of mine just wrote to tell me this is the reason he was in the hospital a few months ago. This affects all people, though (obviously) HIV folks should be even more careful, since we may be even more susseptible to such infections.

Firstly... don't panic -- just wash your hands before eating, and make sure that sores or wounds remain covered while in public places. I just saw a doctor interviewed on CNN who is looking after a couple of high school students who were recently infected... and while they are both in the hospital, the doctor seemed comfortable that they would both recover just fine....

Here is an email on the topic that's been circulating:
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Let me speak out directly on this.

I have had 2 MRSA Staph Infections myself, back-to-back. This was on top of my compromised immune system.

I worked in a hospital when I caught them both. I didn't work with patients, I worked in the Professional Bldg. but had to walk through the hospital a lot to go to various buildings/rooms. What I thought was a spider bite on the temple of my forehead, was an MRSA staph infection.

There was a 2nd locations that the infection showed up, on my testicle. That made it very difficult to sit down in a chair. The infection was like a hard lump under the skin with what looked like a tiny pimple-like sore on the surface of the skin.

Due to MRSA being an antibiotic resistant staph infection, the options for treatment are limited. My physician tried an antibiotic that was relatively new, Alina

I had a major reaction to the new medication and had to immediately go off of the medication. He tried a combination of antibiotics the next round, they seemed to work and I responded and eventually healed. The only other alternative was IV therapy had the antibiotics not worked.

After 2 back to back MRSA staph infections, I had to go on disability (to allow my self to heal properly) and consider that I have no business working in a hospital, especially with advanced HIV. The MRSA infections wrecked havoc on my immune system. I was lucky that it was caught in time.

I am unsure of how many of you go to a gym and shower at the gym. Obviously you need to take precaution.

There are various ways to catch MRSA. SImply be aware of cuts and scraps on the body. Take notice of what you think "may" be a spider/ bug bite.

The best suggestion for prevention is to wash your hands more frequently. Do not go to hospitals unless you absolutely have to.

It can even come from inside of the nose. Which means, yes blow your nose with a tissue, do not touch the inside of your nose without a tissue that can be discarded.

My physician stated that most everyone has on their body what causes MRSA.

CA-MRSA - Community Acquired MRSA is basically MRSA outside of the clinical (hospital) setting. What was once found in the hospital (clinical setting) has now made it out of the hospital and into the general community which causes an even greater concern.

I by no means, send this message to scare or panic anyone, but send this message to warn, from experience.

Please be clean, be cautious and be aware.