It is extremely important to go see a doctor as soon as a MRSA or Staph infection is suspected. View the Staph infection symptoms to decide. In these cases, time lapsed before treatment can be lethal.
Why is it important to see the Doctor quickly?If you have what appears to be a skin infection like a boil, it will probably grow bigger as time lapses. If that boil is indeed MRSA, it can grow not only in breadth, but in depth until it reaches something important. Once the pus inside that boil reaches an organ or important artery, it can infect your blood system and your entire body. Once this happens hospitalization is required, and it is very difficult to treat.
Antibiotics Your doctor will most likely prescribe an antibiotic if he diagnosis your symptoms as a Staph infection or MRSA. It is probably best to stay away from the antibiotics that end in -cillin since MRSA is resistant to those antibiotics. But your Doctor will know this, and you should above all follow his advice. Some common antibiotics that are used to treat both Staph and MRSA include Rifampin, Clindamycin, Avelox, Septra (SMZ/TMP or bactrim), and more. In the case of MRSA Doctors often prescribe 2 antibiotics, one of which is usually Septra (labeled SMZ/TMP on pharmacy labels).
The Boil If your boil is small, the doctor will most likely let the antibiotics take care of it, especially if it is hard to the touch. If the boil has grown too big, and is soft and mushy to the touch, it must be lanced. These boils will not go away on their own or with antibiotics. The pus inside will continue to spread and could cause major damage. If you do need your boil lanced, do not worry. It is a simple procedure that is done in the doctors office in a few minutes. The doctor will give you an injection of local anesthetic (similar to the kind you get at the dentist office during a filling). This will quickly deaden any sensation in the boil. The doctor will then cut a small incision into the boil and use sterile q-tips to remove the pus. The good news is that you don't feel a thing. The doctor may then pack the wound so that any further pus is absorbed. After the procedure you shouldn't feel much pain until the anesthetic wears off, at which point you will probably feel a burning sensation around the wound. Take tylenol to ease the pain and lie down so that you do not to strain the area.
What not to do A boil should NEVER be lanced by anyone but a doctor. Do not try it on your own, you will do more harm and spread the infection. Do not try to squeeze the boil so that it pops. This will also spread the infection.
The Final Stage of Treatment Taking antibiotics is not enough. Although medicine may cause the boil to go away, the germ is still all around you, and you will likely get it again if proper prevention measures are not followed. To ensure that the MRSA or Staph infection stays away, follow our tips on preventing MRSA Staph infections.
