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.