I am very scared about this bacteria mrsa, which I just came up positive for.?

I am in the Military and for the last 4 years, every 3-5 months I get a big boil or abscess somewhere on my body. In all different areas. I always have to get these infections laced and drained by a DR, which turns into a big painfully problem. No DR ever knew what was wrong with me until now. They did a nose culture and I have MRSA and that they are putting me on Doxycycline to have prevent more inflection. My DR told me that there is nothing else he can do for me. But I have been researching mrsa on the web and there is a lot more, at least it seems. I feel I should be isolated or something I don't want to infect anyone else...should I say away for my boyfriend for now?? Please help me with any information. I am very confused and really don't understand. (I am deployed to Iraq currently and it’s hard to see the DR for questions like this. I mean he is really busy with more important patients. Thanks

I am very scared about this bacteria mrsa, which I just came up positive for.?
I'm a physician. MRSA or methicillin resistant staph aureaus is a type of staph that is resistant to penicillins. The importance of this diagnosis is that someone finally figured out that the standard antibiotics used to treat skin conditions are not going to help you out. The hospital may well isolate you if you are ever admitted, but it isn't because this is a virulent infection, but just that it is tougher to treat than the standard staph bacteria. You don't need to stay away from your boyfriend or anyone else. As physicians, we often comment that every health care worker in the world probably has MRSA in their nose; if someone would test us all, the uproar would calm down! God bless you for your service to us, dear. And stay safe.
Reply:MRSA is very serious if acquired, however, since you seem to be a natural carrier, your body lives relatively happy with it with just a few outbreaks (boils). If for some reason you were to become immunocompromised (HIV, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, old age, etc.) you could develop septicemia (blood infection) and then you could be in big trouble. But other than that, you should be fine with no problems. However, other people can be at risk of acquiring it, including your boyfriend. I would say that if he's healthy, he should be fine, but it is still a problem, and as your doctor told you, there is not much you can do except take the antibiotics they give you to minimize bacterial growth. Good luck.
Reply:My roommate, her husband and her kids get this. I, "knock on wood" haven't. The Dr.s tell them that there is nothing at all that can be done. I'm curious about this Doxycycline you talked about. Is that the spray you put in your nose that's suppose to kill it? As far as your boyfriend...has he had it yet? Chances are he may not..Let me know if you hear anything else about it.
Reply:Maybe you should ask someone at the center for infectious diseases. You can find it on the web. It's not something I would want to spread. G.R. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Good Luck and God Blessings.
Reply:Look into also using intranasal Bactroban (mupirocin) ointment 2X daily applied with a q-tip twirled around inside of nose along with the oral antibiotics you were prescribed. This can kill the colonized MRSA in the nose. Do this daily for 2-3 weeks and keep your fingers away from your nose and your chances of clearing the colonization are much better than if just taking oral antibiotics.





http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/article...





http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi...





The generic mupirocin applied with a clean q-tip works just fine and there is no need to purchase the more expensive name brand nasal preparation.





Also, you need to wonder why your physician didn't mention this to you, since this is standard treatment for hospital personnel affected by MRSA colonization.
Reply:You should be concerned. However sad thing about MRSA is everywhere almost in public gyms shower rooms etc. If you get it youll have to be admitted and get vacomycin IV. MRSA is a resistant strain resitant to MOST antibiotics.