13 days post cbgx3

[chrsfrm]

Morning all. After 4days all looked so good I was going to be discharged. But then BANG. I contracted MRSA and oral thrush. Was in ICU for 11 days. Heavy IV antibiotics via a picc line. The MRSA wound damage is being slowly closed by vac bump dressing. Not sure what future is. No one wants to say were the MRSA came from. They say it was on my body at operation stage....odd as I screened negative at present operation checks. Anyone had this?

[skid112 Heart Star]

Morning chrsfrm, not had it but whilst I was in hospital I was moved to a single room a few days before my op as there was a MRSA infection within the ward. I'm sorry to hear of the complications you've had not needed after such a procedure. Have the doctors said how long you'll need treatment for this and given you any ideas of next steps in your recovery? Have you called the BHF helpline and spoken to any of then nurses there? Heart Helpline: 0300 330 3311

[Midgeymoo17]

Not had this but have previously studied statistics of false positives / false negatives.

To be honest it is very possible the MRSA was on your skin even if you were swabbed. For me my MRSA swabs were groin, throat, nose and checks (these are checked as they are the most common sites), the incision down my sternum. For the swab to show MRSA you actually need to come into contact with the MRSA.

Other factors include when the swab was taken. I have congenital heart disease so had an unusually long wait of nearly 8 weeks between pre-op tests and actual operation. The swabs themselves were only valid for 30 days I think it was due to the incubation period of MRSA making my pre-op tests useless- so again it depends when your pre screening was done. (I basically had to redo swabs when admitted).

Also as a statistician I will tell you any screening test will give false positives/ false negatives from time to time. Depending on how the swab was processed (even if great care and correct procedure followed) it is possible to get a negative result from a positive swab. In some screening tests performed on unborn babies when you actually calculate the permutations the screening has about a 1 in 2 chance of being right. It is most likely the pre-op swabs results were accurate but statistically it is possible.

Irrespective of people not really telling you where the MRSA came from trust them they will be taking a confirmed case of MRSA extremely seriously.It is becoming an increasingly common issue as skidd112 pointed out and no one takes it lightly.

[chrsfrm in reply to Midgeymoo17]

Ok I understand. I think my swabs were out off date due to 3 operation cancellations. If I am on aspirin for blood thinners, could could I be mrsa reinfected through cuts on the longer term?

[Midgeymoo17 in reply to chrsfrm]

Oh dear sorry about the 3 cancellations.

With regards to your second question- it is unlikely to be an issue. The antibiotics your given now will completely eradicate the infection and aspirin although a blood thinner does not really have enough effect on healing speed to make the risk any higher than if you were not taking aspirin.

[Sina-6491]

Sorry to hear you have had such a tough time of it.

Like the others, I was lucky, so had no problems.

But my friend had a hernia opp about 8 years ago. She was pretty poorly due to MRSA, she was in intensive care for weeks.

But after being successful with her treatment, she has never had any further issues.

So I recon, you are over the worst of it now

[Hidden]

Studies have also shown that there are issues within surgical wards post op with MRSA infections for a variety of reasons.

My experience is based on pursuing the hospitals for information - using freedom of information and patient rights vehicles. The results indicated in both cases that the MRSA had been present in the ward for at least three days prior to the operation. Although deep cleans had taken place it had not eradicated the presence.

The hospital had been aware but not offered those with elective operations the opportunity to cancel - some contracted post operative MRSA.

So be aware you are not the only source, insist on the use of medical hand gels by your visitors and staff before you come into contact with them.

Really sorry to hear about the issues, focus on healing and confident that it rarely reoccurs