Cellulitis Infection

[philamom]

edit

Edited December 19, 2011 by philamom

[laure]

Does anyone have any experience with this? My dd (10) has a cellulitis infection on her lower leg that the doctor says is probably due to a staph infection. It looks like it is now on her face. She started Keflex 500mg bid on Tuesday. I plan to take her back to the doctors tomorrow or Wednesday, but was wondering if I should be more concerned.

 

 

We have had it several times...it can begin for any reason, (bug bite, etc) then quickly spreads through the body and is detectable by redness, pain, swelling, a fever, and gets worse quickly. Can lead to scarlet fever. Goes away just as fast with abx, sometimes a shot of penicillin is required. To avoid contamination of other family members, change all towels, sheets, and wash clothes every time they are worn. Be vigilant for the next month about this. Our whole family was infected and had to use muprocin in our noses and wash with anti bacterial soap for an entire year. Watch for pimple-like or cyst-like signs, those are the early signs.

[philamom]

Does anyone have any experience with this? My dd (10) has a cellulitis infection on her lower leg that the doctor says is probably due to a staph infection. It looks like it is now on her face. She started Keflex 500mg bid on Tuesday. I plan to take her back to the doctors tomorrow or Wednesday, but was wondering if I should be more concerned.

 

 

We have had it several times...it can begin for any reason, (bug bite, etc) then quickly spreads through the body and is detectable by redness, pain, swelling, a fever, and gets worse quickly. Can lead to scarlet fever. Goes away just as fast with abx, sometimes a shot of penicillin is required. To avoid contamination of other family members, change all towels, sheets, and wash clothes every time they are worn. Be vigilant for the next month about this. Our whole family was infected and had to use muprocin in our noses and wash with anti bacterial soap for an entire year. Watch for pimple-like or cyst-like signs, those are the early signs.

edit

Edited December 19, 2011 by philamom

[tpotter]

Does anyone have any experience with this? My dd (10) has a cellulitis infection on her lower leg that the doctor says is probably due to a staph infection. It looks like it is now on her face. She started Keflex 500mg bid on Tuesday. I plan to take her back to the doctors tomorrow or Wednesday, but was wondering if I should be more concerned.

 

 

We have had it several times...it can begin for any reason, (bug bite, etc) then quickly spreads through the body and is detectable by redness, pain, swelling, a fever, and gets worse quickly. Can lead to scarlet fever. Goes away just as fast with abx, sometimes a shot of penicillin is required. To avoid contamination of other family members, change all towels, sheets, and wash clothes every time they are worn. Be vigilant for the next month about this. Our whole family was infected and had to use muprocin in our noses and wash with anti bacterial soap for an entire year. Watch for pimple-like or cyst-like signs, those are the early signs.

 

 

We are dealing with that right now with both my boys. Reminds me, I need to go clean their bathtub!

[philamom]

Went to another doc today. It looks like were back with the Erythema Nodosum diagnosis. The reaction to her face was most likely from the Keflex.

[tpotter]

Went to another doc today. It looks like were back with the Erythema Nodosum diagnosis. The reaction to her face was most likely from the Keflex.

 

 

Are you still dealing with the cellulitis? If so, I think it's kind of strange that both of us are from the same area of PA, and we are both dealing with it at the same time. Looks like ours is cellulitis (one DS on his toe and the other on his rear end...this isn't the 1st time.) Doc wants him having surgery...they think it probably goes deeper. We see Dr. B. tomorrow for IVIG for one of my kids, and I'm bringing it up. Do you think there could be something going around here? I know that there's been a particularly virulent strep going around PA this year.

[philamom]

Went to another doc today. It looks like were back with the Erythema Nodosum diagnosis. The reaction to her face was most likely from the Keflex.

 

 

Are you still dealing with the cellulitis? If so, I think it's kind of strange that both of us are from the same area of PA, and we are both dealing with it at the same time. Looks like ours is cellulitis (one DS on his toe and the other on his rear end...this isn't the 1st time.) Doc wants him having surgery...they think it probably goes deeper. We see Dr. B. tomorrow for IVIG for one of my kids, and I'm bringing it up. Do you think there could be something going around here? I know that there's been a particularly virulent strep going around PA this year.

edit

Edited December 19, 2011 by philamom

[laure]

When our family was hit (pre-PANDAS and Lyme) it was initially feared to be MYRSA because of the tenacity of it, and how it had spread throughout the family. I admit to not washing towels often...I mean, right after a shower how dirty can you be? Anyway, gone now for a couple of years, but we still watch for signs. And the doctors are quick to act with us on this one.

[tpotter]

Went to another doc today. It looks like were back with the Erythema Nodosum diagnosis. The reaction to her face was most likely from the Keflex.

 

 

Are you still dealing with the cellulitis? If so, I think it's kind of strange that both of us are from the same area of PA, and we are both dealing with it at the same time. Looks like ours is cellulitis (one DS on his toe and the other on his rear end...this isn't the 1st time.) Doc wants him having surgery...they think it probably goes deeper. We see Dr. B. tomorrow for IVIG for one of my kids, and I'm bringing it up. Do you think there could be something going around here? I know that there's been a particularly virulent strep going around PA this year.

2 doctors - 2 different opinions. What a shocker One doctor is talking cellulitis, possible blood tests for lupus, exc...other doc is suggesting Erythema Nodosum and considering an ultrasound of her leg (she now has something small going on in the other leg as well). I go back on Friday. I feel it's strep related. My dd's LFT's & DNASE shot up significantly at the same time, along with other symptoms. Her ASO is increasing to high end normal. Let me know what Dr. B thinks? Also, do you think it may be related to Bartonella? Good luck with the IVIG!

 

Pediatrician has said to do MRSA protocol, since it probably is that (given the one on DS18 has been back multiple times.) DS18 is also seeing the ENT today,so we'll see what he says. I feel like I'm sick, but don't see my pulmonologist until Monday...I'd love to get tested. Dr. B. isn't in today, but did speak with his PA. She said she would ask him.. IVIG is going really slowly today (he was getting nauseous and headaches, so we super slowed it down.

[laure]

I would have your doc actually run tests for MYRSA before treating really aggressively. Our situation was stubborn cysts that kept returning, but when tests were sent out, they came back negative for the entire family of 5. At a later date I fell hard on a bike ride and developed a huge hematoma which turned into cellulitis with a fever, etc. about a week later. This is not the first time I have had cellulitis,so I was on to it. Eventually I was given an IV drip abx and levaquin...and then finally hospitalized where they drained this huge grapefruit-sized thing on my hip... After 3 days in the hospital, the tests came back - still negative for MYRSA and everything else they were worried about. Just staph. So I went home with a huge scar and more abx! Never got to the bottom of it, just know I am super-susceptible, and so are my kids!

[philamom]

I would have your doc actually run tests for MYRSA before treating really aggressively. Our situation was stubborn cysts that kept returning, but when tests were sent out, they came back negative for the entire family of 5. At a later date I fell hard on a bike ride and developed a huge hematoma which turned into cellulitis with a fever, etc. about a week later. This is not the first time I have had cellulitis,so I was on to it. Eventually I was given an IV drip abx and levaquin...and then finally hospitalized where they drained this huge grapefruit-sized thing on my hip... After 3 days in the hospital, the tests came back - still negative for MYRSA and everything else they were worried about. Just staph. So I went home with a huge scar and more abx! Never got to the bottom of it, just know I am super-susceptible, and so are my kids!

What is the test for MRSA? Is it a biopsy? Or blood tests? thx

[911RN]

I would have your doc actually run tests for MYRSA before treating really aggressively. Our situation was stubborn cysts that kept returning, but when tests were sent out, they came back negative for the entire family of 5. At a later date I fell hard on a bike ride and developed a huge hematoma which turned into cellulitis with a fever, etc. about a week later. This is not the first time I have had cellulitis,so I was on to it. Eventually I was given an IV drip abx and levaquin...and then finally hospitalized where they drained this huge grapefruit-sized thing on my hip... After 3 days in the hospital, the tests came back - still negative for MYRSA and everything else they were worried about. Just staph. So I went home with a huge scar and more abx! Never got to the bottom of it, just know I am super-susceptible, and so are my kids!

What is the test for MRSA? Is it a biopsy? Or blood tests? thx

 

 

MRSA can be tested by wound swab of the abscess drainage (same as a culture swab done for Strep in the throat). If you want to find out if you are a positive carrier you can have a swab done of the nares. We test all orthopedic patients for carrier status before they receive any type of prothesis- knee, hip etc. Will usually put them of prophylactic antibiotics before they wil even consider doing the surgery. If folks are carriers and get an infected prothesis with MRSA- it's a mess with potentially very bad outcome for surgery. May require removal of hardware etc. I have had folks have to have IV antibiotics for a year or longer after MRSA joint infections following total knees/total hips. It's a mess!!

 

There are measures to prevent becoming a carrier- apply bactroban ointment inside nares for a week, use hebiclens soap (expensive but you can buy OTC)to shower with once a week.

 

MRSA IS a Staph infection- it is just Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureus- hence, the acronym MRSA. It is resistant to any of the -cillins. MRSA infections are community acquired, now. Just like Strep, the common cold or common viruses. They used to be just in hospitals, nursing homes etc. MRSA appears like abscesses, skin infections or cellulitis. Everyone comes in with their first one saying they have a spider bite. It's not- it's MRSA. They are usually painful and drain at some point. We usually see between 3 and 5 per day in our ER each day. In a town of 30,000 people! From as young as 2 months to as old as 80. Street people to little ole' church ladies.

 

Luckily, in our particular area- Bactrim and Clindamycin are still effective according to the cultures and senstivities. However, some areas/people have Clindamycin resistance which is really bad. Bactrim is only choice or IV medications like Vancomycin. Bactrim for MRSA dosing is NOT the same as for like a UTI or ear infection. For adults- 2 caps twice a day. Not one cap twice a day like for other infections. Quinolones like Levaquin might work for a straight staph infection (would not be my first choice)but it would not work for MRSA.

 

Common areas to pick it up are schools with gym equipment/mats, YMCA's, work out equipment, locker rooms etc.

 

It has been said that bacteria and viruses will take all of mankind down in the end??? Not sure if that is true...but this is one scary example. I have seen this malady jump expodentially in the last 10 years in the ER. Crosses all ages, sexes and socio- economic boundaries.It's just OUT THERE....good handwashing is KEY. One good thing about my OCD kid- he's good about washing his hands Understandably, he's not fanatical about handwashing-however, I certainly don't discourage it when he does do it.

 

Here is link:

 

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childhoodinfections/a/staph_infection.htm

[philamom]

edit

Edited December 19, 2011 by philamom

[philamom]

edit

Edited December 19, 2011 by philamom

[911RN]

Is there a blood culture (lab test) that can be ordered to see if my daughter is dealing with cellulitis from staph??

 

I took her back to the second doctor today for a follow up and he feels it is erythema nodosum since a small nodule popped up on her other leg. This lump doesn't look anything like what's on the first leg. He feels since both legs are involved, it's probably not cellulitis. But, he didn't see how bad it was last week before the seven days of Keflex. The first leg is beginning to look better, but she is still dealing with fatigue, chills, and a feeling of vomiting.

 

Can you check to see if it's in your bloodstream?

 

Yes, you can have blood cultures drawn- blood test to see if there is a systemic infection. They are drawn into what looks like like little airplane whiskey bottles. Tend to be very sick with systemic blood infections but if she is being treated with Keflex- may not be showing and antibiotic is effective? It's hard to say? You may get false negatives with blood cultures if already being treated. Like to get them before abx are started. You can have both legs involved in Staph infections. I have had folks with multiple abscesses on both legs.She is being followed by docs- that's good. Keep on top of it:)