My 7 year old has a severe MRSA infection. She has been on Prednisone for another skin infection and apparently was wide open for infection. I love her pediatrician but he is very conservative. She is on Bactrim and we are using Bactroban but the doctor said today it looks like a visit to the hospital for IV antibiotics is likely. He also said to expect this infection to reoccur. He didn't have much in the way of suggestions for preventing a repeat occurance...he just seemed sure that it would. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

Unfortunately you can't really treat MRSA aggressively because it can make things worse. Bactrim and Bactroban are the current drugs of choice, although I do know of one person who has taken an antibiotic in a pill form, but I do not recall which one it was.

One thing that I do know helps prevent the spread of infection is to put Bactrim salve inside the nostrils (regardless of where the infection originated from), and good handwashing is essential every time the bathroom is used (antibacterial soap). The best way to help this from recurring is to not take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, and keep all open areas as sterile as possible.

I am currently dealing with MRSA and find most information vague, and doctors seem helpless to cure it. My form isnt on the surface though, its deep tissue instead. But The best known antibiotic to take care of it is Vancomycin, the only draw back is its only available in IV form to be effective, this is what I have had. When they did my cultures, it showed bactrim to also be effective against it, but they still chose the Vanco. Your doctor may put her on that if she were in the hospital, but im not sure just how effective that would be. The treatment is different than other infections, normally a few days IV then go home on some oral med and all is fine. Vanco for staph is typically used for a minimum of 2 weeks, but most typically more like 4 weeks. I was on mine for about 4 weeks and am now starting on bactrim when all signs of infection were gone. He is still cautious even after all this time in telling me that if I even have the slightest return of symptoms to contact him right away. Its hard to beat. I have heard a lot of the stuff you put in the nose, but dont know much of it. Unfortunately chances are always going to be there she could get it again when you make it through this one. You have to carefully and thoughrly treat every tiny little sore she gets, even a little scratch needs to be washed well, treated with ointment and covered until completely healed. Its a very opportunistic type of bacteria and it dont take much for it to find its way in. I hope thing get better soon. I cant imagine have a little one with this stuff. I didnt like coming home from hospital when I did for fear of my children getting it...but all is well for now.

Best Wishes

Likewise, I have been fighting staph infection on my face since last fall.
I have had numerous rounds of anitibiotics. Have been to 3 doctors. The last one is a doctor of infectious disease. In addition to the meds and the topical ointment bactrim he suggests that I wash with a soap called Purpose.