Appreciate the quick response. What is MRSA and how would I know if I had it? As far as I know, my ID made no mention of an MRSA to me. All he said was that I have staph and as I said, he has me taking one of each, Rifampin and Septra, once a day for 2 weeks after which I need to take Septra once a day for about months.
I reside in the US but will be leaving to India. I have decided to carry my reports from the ID so that I could show it to the dermatologist there so that he would know my problem and get a better feel of the medication that I've been on. Would you recommend anything else?
Is being on Septra for like a year a matter of concern at all?
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Followup To
Question -
Dr. Fisher,
After examining my problem and after a blood test, my ID specialist has diagnosed that I have a staph infection in my nose. He has me taking Rifampin and Septra for 2 weeks after which I would need to be on Septra once a day for several months.
What I would like to know is if staph infections are completely curable or do I have to live with this problem for life.
If curable, for how long are most people to be on medication?
And what do you think about Septra? Is it a very strong antibiotic?
What caused me to get this type of infection in the first place and is there anything else other than medicines, that I can do to get better soon?
Thanks doc
Answer -
Staph is a common contaminent of the skin and there is no way that you can rid your skin of staph. Staph is considered an oportunistic pathogen. This means when the condition is right such as a cut the staph can grow. Staph normally inhabits the nasal passage. In some patients the treatment inside the nose with Centany Ointment, a topical antibiotic, can hold down staph infections. Septra is a sulfa drug which is very effective. Refampin is also a very good antibiotic. Since your ID is using two antibiotic, I would want to know if you have MRSA which is a form of staph that is resistant to many antibiotics.
Answer There is a new community acquired Staph infection called MRSA. This just means that he staph is more resistant to common antibiotics and that is why a person is placed on two antibiotics. I recommend that you ask your ID doctor if he thinks you have MRSA.
