I think I might have MRSA!?

Question

I have this bump on my side that looks like a spider bite(I get them frequently from camping so much) but because of the MRSA scare I think that it might be MRSA.

It doesn't hurt,itch, sting, or cause me pain at all but it did have dry crusty skin over it though. It looks like it has 2 entrance points but I can't tell. All it is is red and raised a lottle bit like a spider bite! PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Answer 1

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of MRSA infection depend on where you've been infected.

MRSA most often appears as a skin infection, like a boil or abscess. It also might infect a surgical wound. In either case, the area would look:


Understanding MRSA
MRSA is called a "super bug" because infections are resistant to many common antibiotics. Here's what you need to know about drug-resistant staph:

Swollen
Red
Painful
Pus filled
Many people who actually have staph skin infections OFTEN MISTAKE it for a spider bite.

If staph infects the lungs and causes pneumonia, you might have:

Shortness of breath
Fever
Chills
MRSA can cause many other symptoms since it can infect the urinary tract or the bloodstream.

Very rarely, staph can result in necrotizing fasciitis, or "flesh-eating" bacterial infections. These are serious skin infections that spread very quickly. While frightening, necrotizing fasciitis caused by staph is rare. There have only been a handful of reported cases.

Call your doctor if:
In most cases, MRSA is easily treated. But since MRSA infection can be serious or -- rarely -- fatal, don't ignore signs of infection. See your health care provider.

If you are already being treated for an infection, watch for signs that your medicine isn't working. If you are taking an antibiotic, call your doctor if

The infection is no better after three or four days
The infection keeps getting worse
You develop a fever, or your fever gets worse
People who are ill or have a compromised immune system have a higher risk of getting MRSA. If you have a condition that lowers your immunity, call your doctor right away if you think that you might have an infection

So if you don't have the above symptoms; in most likelihood it's just a plain spider bite.

Answer 2

MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal. Patients colonized with MRSA may have a special antibiotic called mupirocin applied onto their skin (Bactroban) or the inside of their nose (Bactroban nasal). This helps to eliminate the MRSA and reduces the risk of the bacteria spreading either to other sites on the patient's body, where they might cause infection, or to other patients. Some strains of MRSA are, however, resistant to mupirocin. Individuals colonized with MRSA may also wash their skin and hair with suitable disinfectants, such as chlorhexidine. Patients with infections due to Staphylococcus aureus often need antibiotics. Infections due to normal strains of Staphylococcus aureus are often treated with flucloxacillin (eg Floxapen), but this is ineffective against MRSA. To make matters worse, MRSA are often also resistant to other types of antibiotics such as erythromycin (eg Erythroped) and ciprofloxacin (eg Ciproxin). Although MRSA are resistant to many drugs, most remain susceptible to the antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin (Targocid). You both need to see the dr ASAP to be sure, because it is very contagious and deadly. Hold off on sex until you know for sure.

Answer 3

You should be ok, it's very crucial that you got a good look at the spider. As long as the spider didn't have eight legs then you won't have MRSA. If the spider had eight legs then you'll become very ill and or it could be fatal. If you have any symptoms like being attracted to headlights, or slight mental and physical retardation you should see a doctor right away...or maybe just a shrink because you sound like you have hypocondria

Answer 4

You do not have MRSA most likely. If you really think it might be infected then go to the doc and get it cultured and they will tell you if it is infected or not.

Answer 5

If it has two entry points, then it is not MRSA, but some sort of bite.

Answer 6

i recommend you see your doctor. if it is red, swollen, and warm to the touch, then it's probably infected. it can be treated with a simple ointment and an antibiotic like Keflex which is used for skin infections. don't use the media to diagnose yourself. SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!

Answer 7

Sounds like a spider bite to me.

Answer 8

its probably a spinder bit but you should get it checked out...better safe than sorry!!!