MRSA question?

I am going to call and talk to the phone nurse tomorrow.

My daughter tested positive for MRSA in a boil say a year ago maybe, and last summer she had another boil, so rather than culture they just gave bactrim again and sent us on.
Now she has another boil, bactrim again. I just took her in tonight, and the NP we saw seemed to make it out like it isn't normal to have this many active MRSA infections. Well I thought once you have MRSA that you always have it, so I guess I didn't see it as a big deal.

Anyone else that has MRSA or kids with it that have had multiple active infections? What did they do if they kept coming back? They are never in the same place but it seems they are always on her bottom, (First one tail bone second one butt cheek third one like kind of half way between butcheek and outer vag fold.) I have had boils but I only had them like last October I had a couple got antibiotics and they went away, never came back.

My mom had a friend that she used to live with and he has MRSA and ge would get an infection every year it seemed like. My knowledge on it is limited but I know with some people it can flare up often, for others never again.

Not sure, but if they keep giving her Bactrim and it keeps coming back she'll eventually have Bactrim resistant MRSA...

She probably has MRSA colonized on her. As far as normal... yes and no. It is common for MRSA to colonize and keep causing infections but it should be treated. My mother and I have both had active MRSA infections that were always just treated with Bactrim. Occasionally the boils from them get bad enough to have to be lanced but I've always treated it myself with drawing salve. However, now that I'm actually in nursing school I know that when it's colonized on the skin it needs to be treated appropriately but not sure how. Hope that helped some lol.

Colonization vs Infection


The distinction between staph (including MRSA) colonization and infection is important.
Colonization = the presence of the bacteria, but no signs of illness or infection. Staph thrives in warm, moist places; common sites of colonization include the nostrils, belly button, underarms, groin, etc.
Infection = clinical signs of illness or inflammation (e.g., localized pain/tenderness, redness, warmth, swelling; pus; fever). These are due to tissue damage caused by invasion by the bacteria. Infection requires treatment - various treatment options exist. Treatment does not always require the use of an antibiotic.

Quoting Dutchmaster:" Not sure, but if they keep giving her Bactrim and it keeps coming back she'll eventually have Bactrim resistant MRSA..."

No smurf that is what I was thinking, the NP said it would be fine. I was like this is the third time she has had bactrim for this couldn't it become resistant to that, she said it was "highly unlikely"

Quoting whitney ♥ ainsley:" Colonization vs Infection The distinction between staph (including MRSA) colonization and infection ... [snip!] ... Infection requires treatment - various treatment options exist. Treatment does not always require the use of an antibiotic."

I know that, but she didn't have a cut on her ass crack or anything.

Quoting [JadeLee]:" I know that, but she didn't have a cut on her ass crack or anything."

It doesn't have to be a cut. It could be a small break in the skin, such as from scratching. The injury to the skin could be so microscopic that you would never even notice it.. Also, if you are giving her the full dosage of Bactrim that the doctor prescribes then it is highly unlikely that she would develop a Bactrim resistant strain of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs when people use antibiotics incorrectly.

Quoting martinez♥:" She probably has MRSA colonized on her. As far as normal... yes and no. It is common for MRSA to colonize ... [snip!] ... I know that when it's colonized on the skin it needs to be treated appropriately but not sure how. Hope that helped some lol."

There is so much my school books don't answer about MRSA though. Like WTF "WHY MY KID!?" lol.
Hopefully she doesn't need this one lanced she hasn't needed it before but she usually only gets dime sized ones, this one is like a nickel. Good thing I helped her get dressed this morning or I would have never noticed, at least until her bath tomorrow. Then again I have to fight her through her baths and sometimes all I can do is a quick wash while she is thrashing.

Quoting martinez♥:" It doesn't have to be a cut. It could be a small break in the skin, such as from scratching. The injury ... [snip!] ... would develop a Bactrim resistant strain of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs when people use antibiotics incorrectly."

Yeah I knew that but I am just a worry wart when it comes to my own child all the knowledge I have takes a vacation lol.

Quoting [JadeLee]:" There is so much my school books don't answer about MRSA though. Like WTF "WHY MY KID!?" lol. Hopefully ... [snip!] ... tomorrow. Then again I have to fight her through her baths and sometimes all I can do is a quick wash while she is thrashing."

Yeah it totally sucks. :/ Another thing I found that helps sometimes is putting a banana peel under a bandaid and covering it overnight. Or same thing with drawing salve.

Also, this may sound weird but... When it comes to a head it'll usually develop like a black scab thingy on top of it. Don't try to drain it or anything until that scab develops and you can easily scratch it off. After you do squeeze the sides and a pus pocket should pop out. After that it'll leave like a hole straight down. It sounds weird and goes against what a lot of doctor's suggest but that's what I do for the ones that don't work with drawing salve. I've seriously had a TON of these smurfers and I've only had to have 3 lanced, but they left massive scars so I avoid it at all costs. :/

Quoting martinez♥:" Yeah it totally sucks. :/ Another thing I found that helps sometimes is putting a banana peel under ... [snip!] ... had a TON of these smurfers and I've only had to have 3 lanced, but they left massive scars so I avoid it at all costs. :/"

Yeah, I would rather a doc hurt my baby though. Her pedi actually showed me how to do it, no pressing down just in toward the center from each direction.. I did it to myself easy, and it hurts. It doesn't have a head yet which scares me like how big is this thing going to get.