Recurrent MRSA infection - help!!

[changedagain67543]

DH got a nasty infection in a cut in September. Then a bad ear infection. Then horrendous cysts under his arm. With flu like symptoms. It was swabbed and turned out to be MRSA. My DC then got it. We thought after hardcore antibiotics that’d be it.

However since then he’s had it back three times and he’s now sick again with a horrendous cyst on his bum. He’s so sick. He’s on antibiotics again and is flu like.

He is 41, very fit and healthy, no underlying health issues. Can anyone help? We’re at the end of our tether and don’t know how to stop this. He’s trying bleach baths too.

@greenacrylicpaint you’re right and thats the problem that’s led to this. People should be really worried - I honestly had no idea a superbug like this could infect a very fit and healthy relatively young man. It’s scaring me because it’s just not going away.

@changedagain67543 what treatment is he getting?
Is it via the GP ? Has the GP been acting on advice from any infection control specialists? Who I assume would be hospital based ?
Maybe your DH needs IV anti biotics ??

He’s had different antibiotics but it keeps coming back.

@amberedover1 not had any of that but maybe we should push for it now? I just don’t know what we should be asking for

I'm not an expert but ...I think go back to GP and stress the impact this is having on him and your family .
You need to explain he's been ill since September etc - don't assume they know this . Ask for a plan ? So if not improved by x date what is the next step? Explain that the current treatment isn't working and that you are anxious to know what can be done.
My only suggestion is that he might need the ABs to be given intravenously ie straight into his blood stream. I think , don't know, that he could get this as an outpatient and by ? daily visits to a hospital.
Let us know how you get on .

I hope this isn't too scary, but I wonder if it could be PVL staph infection.
https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/condition/panton-valentine-leukocidin-staphylococcus-aureus/

If this sounds like a possibility, then I would specifically ask to be tested for it (unless you have already).

Thank you I will take all this to the gp

That's for Cdiff.

Good luck @changedagain67543 .I wish I could offer more helpful advice as I do feel for you.
It's shocking that your husband had been ill for 6 months . And thinking about your remark that you don't know what you should be asking for... you should be asking what can be done to make your husband better as the current treatment doesn't seem to be working.
It's not up to you to know about specific treatments or referrals , the GP should be considering these and discussing them.
I hope the GP is helpful and interested , if not could you see a different one ?
Be really strong and make your case .
Good luck.

@amberedover1 thank you - tbh just posting here has made us feel more confident in going back. Going to try all of the other things recommended too though.

Which antibiotics?
I had it, with recurrent abscesses. It was awful. A few weeks of Doxycycline and Bactrim seemed to clear it up for me. Plus chlorhexidine soaks.

@mjf981 he has had different ones but not sure of the names. They are all of the ones that apparently "work" for MRSA.

Oh @changedagain67543
It helps to see it written down sometimes doesn't it ? Of course you should go back , your DH has been ill for months and isn't showing much improvement.
The trouble is GPs see so many people and you think that when they're looking at their screen they're setting a potted history about you .
But they're not ,I think they can search for details of drugs you've been prescribed and so on but it's not neatly layed out or in order of priority.
Plus they're trying to complete the consultation in 10 mins.
So you've got to put your case across .I think you could maybe try saying shouldn't we be seeing an improvement by now ? Not him getting worse.
Ask what else can be done? If they prescribe more ABs ask if they're different ones and when should you start to see an improvement .
I wish I could think of cleverer things to say - but mainly be confident and strong and explain how ill he is and how worried you are .

I work in infectious diseases - I think you've had some pretty good advice here tbh. I just wanted to agree with @Wholettherabbitsout that Manuka honey is really just good for wound/skin infections, it always drives me crazy that it's touted as a cure all by snake oil salesmen, but it does have some research behind it as a topical treatment.

MRSA lives on the skin, and especially sweaty places like armpits and groin, and up the nose, which is why these areas are particularly targeted for treatment.

We don't tend to isolate it from the gut, so gut based remedies like faecal transplants and probiotics aren't likely to be effective (happy to be pointed to any peer reviewed research saying otherwise though!). This is because it needs the skin's slightly acidic environment.

In hospitals, once you've had MRSA even once, it's flagged on your record forever as the chance of recurrence is so high. While people often don't have a recurrence, they can also have an infection with the same strain many years later.

I'd also agree that you might need to be tested for PVL - it might be nothing, but it may explain some of your symptoms.

Sorry, DH's symptoms!

What is the name of the live Greek yogurt please?

Thank you all, comments are really helping

@changedagain67543 I'm thinking of you and hoping you managed to get an appointment with a GP. And hoping it was face to face . It's so hard these days to get one !

Thank you @amberedover1 we did for next week. Hoping for some progress.

My wounds healed slowly but it wasn’t until I had almost a week of vancomycin in hospital intravenously that I got rid of MRSA altogether.
He needs proper support and to be referred to hospital for proper microbiology support and help in managing this.

My dc has pus filled spots and I am thinking it may be a form of Mrsa or the thing above. Will be pressing for swabs.

Ask that he is swabbed for PVL...Pantone Valentin Leucocidin. It can be both MSSA OR MRSA PVL. It's rare. Most healthcare providers haven't heard of it.

@kiwiane that is interesting, were you already in hospital or did they admit you? I really feel like this is what it needs now.

Will ask about PVL too thank you @Flatpackedboxes

Hi were you ever able to get the under control - I’m in the same boat

Yes we were. Not before he ended up in hospital having a massive abscess removed and us cancelling a big trip!

So after that we both had preventative antibiotics for three months (monthly cycle) and that shifted it for him. I then got it again but eventually it went away. Not had it back for several months now .

I found if it was going to attach it would attack and no amount of towel washing etc shifted it. The cyclical antibiotics were probably the game changer. Good luck