My son was diagnosed with mrsa at 2 weeks old . The doctors never gave him an anitbiotido i need a 2nd opinion

Question

Just curious if anybody has an opinion on whether or not they should have given him an antibiotic??? and they said therer is nothing to worry about everything i read says different

Answer 1

Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are cropping up with surprising frequency in newborn boys, and mom could be involved, researchers reported here.

"Community-acquired methicillin-resistant staph aureus is a substantial and increasing proportion of staph infection in previously healthy neonates," Regine M. Fortunov, M.D., of Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. "Individuals who are most at risk are seven to twelve days of age, and male."


Read the entire article here: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/tb/1899

Answer 2

The answer to this question depends on if he is infected or if he is just "colonized" with MRSA. Yes, MRSA in the wrong places can be very dangerous and deadly. If it is in his bloodstream or he has an infected wound, then he certainly should be treated.

If he is asymptomatic, then it is probably better to not treat him, simply because there are not many antibiotics that are safe for a 2 week-old child. Many newer drugs have not been studied in this population and doctors would be very hesitant to use them unless they have to. Furthermore, a 2 week old's body is not developed like an adult and will not be able to process medications that an adult liver or kidney can, so there is always that danger of the unknown.

That fear of the unknown is what will prevent your doctors from prescribing drugs if the patient does not need them. The benefit must outweigh the risk. If something does go wrong with the treatment that has been undocumented, then they are liable, as they are responsible for the outcome. They can get sued. Most docs don't want this. Besides, one of their mantras is to "first do no harm." If that risk of the unknown is there, they won't take that chance unless there is a reasonable possibility of a good outcome, or if by doing nothing, they put the patient at risk.

I know, I'm quite wordy.

You are certainly welcome to a second opinion from another doctor though if you think he warrants treatment though.

Best of luck and hope your son gets better!

Answer 3

Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus. That just means that one of the antibiotics called methicillin doesn't work against it. If it's in his intestines, he will probably recover with no help. He should have an IV to prevent dehydration. More rarely it can get in the lungs. In that case they may try Vancomycin. Get another opinion if it will help you feel better, but the main thing is your son probably has lots of diarrhea. The diarrhea will help flush the bacteria from his body.

Answer 4

Hello there

Please get a 2nd opinion!! MRSA was hard to get rid of at my age (24), and very painful. I don't what it's like for a 2 week old baby, but I'm very sure there is something wrong with that.