Anyone had MRSA? Told today i have it...

[Poohbearsmom]

Still n shock, i really dont know much about it has anyone here been through it or know anyone who has? Any info or advice so very welcome, thanks xxx

Hi.

It just means that you have an infection/bugs (a stapholococci infection) that are resistant to some antibiotics. There are alot of antibiotics availiable so they will be looking for one that clears it up. It does cause problems if you have an open wound/infection as the normal antibiotics won't clear it up. It's fairly common, alot of people carry it without knowing.

I was swabbed for it recently before going to hospital for a day procedure (I didn't have it) and reassured that if it was found on me it would just mean having to wash with a particular prescription antibac soap.

Was it a swab?

Well, you either have an infection caused by MRSA, or you are colonised with MRSA.
If you were to swab the entire UK population, you would find that approximately a third of us would be carriers of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (or MRSA).
Staph. Aureus (the SA bit) is a type of bacteria which normally lives on our skin. Due to over use of antibiotics (having antibiotics for a viral chest infection for example) and people not completing the full course of antibiotics that had been prescribed, a strain of Staph Aureus developed which has become resistant to certain antibiotics, hence the Methicillin Resistant bit.
So you can be a carrier of MRSA and not have any problems at all. You only find out if you are swabbed prior to having surgery, or a planned admission to hospital. The normal course of action is to use an antibacterial body wash and nose cream which your GP prescribes, and reswab a week or so later.
If you have an MRSA infection, don't panic! There are antibiotics availible to treat this type of infection. The microbiology team at your local hospital will have tested the swab to see which specific type of antibiotic your MRSA is sensitive to, and will advise your GP about prescribing it.
Regarding infecting others -it's just normal everyday precautions that you would normall do anyway- make sure you use separate towels/flannels. Use the shower/bath last and wash it out with an anti bac cleaner. Regular hand washing and you could get some antibacterial gel to use as well.
Hope you're feeling better soon.

Thanks very much for the replys i have a fistula & perianal abcess which i had like mini surgery on three wks ago and have been getting the wound dressed daily in hosp and they took a swab of the wound last wk &told me ystday it was mrsa+ & gave me the nasal oint & washs & the public health nurse wil b doing my dressing a hme from mon they r using a pink antibac thing n the wound but im jus worried its gotten n2 my blood as the wound was bleeding l.wk not jus da usual 'stuff' sorry for all the tmi! Thanks again