My 99-year-old mother has MRSA

[Thirtieschild]

On her bottom. It's apparently been percolating for some time - three months ago a bladder infection was tested as staph, and it apparently traveled to her bottom and morphed into MRSA. (Given her age it's not a surprising trip or transition.) She's looking forward to her 100th birthday in three months, but is in a lot of pain and doesn't realize how serious this is. She lives in a retirement home, not a nursing home or even assisted living. She hasn't been in a hospital for at least a year, and then only to be checked out after she fell, so it didn't come through medical care. She's now at my sister's house, and I suspect I need to start making plans to get there. Have any of you had any experience with MRSA, either in yourself or in a family member? Particularly MRSA that didn't come through a medical facility.

[abbeyco]

1. I wish you and your mother well

I know nothing about MRSA, but send my best wishes that it's treated appropriately and that your whole family is there to celebrate her 100th! :hug:

[tekisui]

2. I don't know much about MRSA, but if your mom is 99, she's done well.

I wish you and her the best.

[Warpy]

3. It's out in the community now

so it could have come from anyplace.

The good news is that vancomycin still kills it.

The bad news is that it still takes a while for vancomycin to kill it, time the drug must be administered intravenously.

In the mean time, talk to her doctor about comfort care. A mild narcotic can make all the difference in the world in terms of quality of life.

Good luck to you both.

[Thirtieschild]

6. Thanks for the advice.

I'm going to forward your message to my sister, who lives in the same place as Mother and does most of the looking after. Mother is a determined woman, and I'd bet the ranch that her determination is going to take her to her 100th birthday.

This is my second encounter with MRSA. In April a good friend's seven-month-old grandson was lifeflighted to Albuquerque where doctors removed the infection through surgery. I don't know if they also treated him with vanomycin, but know he was in the hospital several days.

[yardwork]

4. I'm so sorry to hear that. Is she in the hospital now?

She needs to be on antibiotics. There are several antibiotics that are effective against MRSA.

[Olney Blue]

5. I hope she gets treated aggressively for this infection.

I know it's hard to watch your parent suffer like this. :hug:

[flashl]

7. No advice, but hope for a speedy recovery. nt

[benddem]

8. As one of the other commenters said

this needs to be treated aggressively. Generally a course of IV antibiotics is necessary. The biggest problem and your mother's age is a factor is that it can travel and infect other organs. I have a friend who got it from (she thinks) a scratch from a branch while she was hiking. It can come from anything or anywhere. There are schools where they have epidemics of it in the athletic teams. Good Luck, I hope she makes it to 100.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Extremely unlikely its CA (community associated)-MRSA.

More likely HA (healthcare associated)-MRSA. She might have been exposed when she was treated for the bladder infection. There is some good info here http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=causes. I'll say a prayer for her.

David

[Thirtieschild]

10. Mother is beating MRSA

The infection is smaller, the ulcer isn't as deep, she's not in as much pain. She's one tough lady, and that 100th birthday party is going to be something special. My daughter who lives in England is even going to try to make it, and bring her five-year-old with her. Whooo.

[Celebration]

11. Woo Hoo is right!!

Have a great celebration!

[MannyGoldstein]

12. My Mother-In-Law Had It, Is Fine Now

Apparently there are two types - hospital-acquired and community-acquired. I assume that your mom has community-acquired. If so, my understanding is that her long-term risks are no different than someone who has a "regular" infection, but she needs specialized antibiotics.

My 80+ year old mother-In-law was in the hospital for a couple of weeks - pretty straightforward stuff, nothing heroic.