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What happens when you get MRSA in your spine?
Spinal epidural abscess caused by MRSA, a life-threatening organism resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics, is a rare but important infectious pathology due to its potential damage to the spinal cord.
Is MRSA in the spine contagious?
Yes, MRSA is contagious. MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a contagious staph infection that can be spread from person to person One characteristic that makes MRSA a threat is its resistance to many antibiotics.
Can MRSA affect your back?
MRSA can cause many other symptoms, because once it gets into your bloodstream, MRSA can settle anywhere. It can cause abscess in your spleen, kidney, and spine.
What is the treatment for MRSA?
At home — Treatment of MRSA at home usually includes a 7- to 10-day course of an antibiotic (by mouth) such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (brand name: Bactrim), clindamycin, minocycline, linezolid, or doxycycline.
Can spinal infection be cured?
To treat your spinal infection, your doctor will likely use a combination of intravenous antibiotics and bracing to support your spine as it heals. More often than not, this will be sufficient to help you recover.
How long does it take to recover from a spinal infection?
Spinal infections are often treated without surgery. IV antibiotics are given in the hospital and/or in an outpatient facility and may continue at home for 4 to 6 weeks. Oral antibiotics may need to be taken for several months. Analgesics and spinal bracing may be used to help control pain.
Can MRSA paralyze you?
One of the most notorious multidrug-resistant superbugs, MRSA is responsible for an estimated 19,000 deaths1 and 360,000 hospitalizations2 each year in this country. Fortunately, Jamel survived the infection, but the disease left him paralyzed below the waist.
Can MRSA cause paralysis?
Two days later, Jamel awoke to the news: his pain and paralysis had been the result of an MRSA infection. Paralyzed from the waist down, Jamel stayed in the intensive care unit for several weeks while doctors tried multiple antibiotics—including some last-resort drugs—to get his infection under control.
How do you treat a spinal infection?
Spinal infections often require long-term intravenous antibiotic or antifungal therapy and can equate to extended hospitalization time for the patient. Immobilization may be recommended when there is significant pain or the potential for spine instability.
Is there a permanent cure for MRSA?
Yes, an individual may get rid of MRSA completely by following the prescription given by doctors strictly. MRSA can be treated with powerful antibiotics, nose ointments, and other therapies. Incision and drainage remain the primary treatment option for MRSA related skin infections.
Can the spine repair itself?
Unlike other parts of your body, the spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself if it is damaged. A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord either from trauma, loss of its normal blood supply, or compression from tumor or infection.