I feel i’ve caught MRSA at my Infusion Clinic. Anyone else had this?

[Vixen2]

I sometimes read the posts on here. But i’m not a ‘regular’. I’ve had RA since i was 21. (Turned 50 last month!) I have an Infliximab infusion every 6 weeks. I have iritis & glaucoma too.

I’ve been getting serious ear infections since Nov 2019. Recurring all the bloody time. I’ve been feeling exhausted, really naff. I’ve been having serious dizzy spells, Even memory problems. I wake up with really dry eyes & a severely dry mouth. So mornings AREN’T my favourite time of the day! I’m rambling. Sorry.

So i had yet another painful ear swab. My gp got back to me a week later & said i have another Staphalacoccus ear infection. (More steroid ear drops). But more worrying is i’ve got MRSA. So i’ve got to use some hibiscrub stuff all over my body for five days, wash my hair twice with it & use some nazal drops 3 times a day, whilst putting the ear drops in 3 times a day too. Now i last had my infusion a few weeks ago. So this is quite worrying. I don’t want to feel paranoid about having my treatment. I was due to go to my hospital for a steroid injection in my left shoulder on Mon. Of course i had to cancel it. I haven’t told my infusion clinic yet. But i will. As i’ve said. Has anyone else come away with MRSA to add to the list of health crap??

[oldtimer]

Sorry to hear about your problems which must be quite worrying for you on top of everything else. Unfortunately attending any hospital setting increases the chance of getting MRSA. As does using antibiotics which I expect you have had for your recurrent ear infections. Can you discuss what other treatments for your ear infections you can have to reduce re-infection?

[medway-lady]

I've had it in my lungs from a hot tub on a cruise ship and had 9 lots of antibiotics then a sputum test and thats when they said it was MRSA. So I'd sat happily in human soup! I had a number of tests and it was found as an incidental finding on the MRI that I had Cylindrical Brochectasis too. So it was then a long cause of Doxycycline and it got rid of it eventually. I did pulmonary rehabilitation and my lungs are now clear although I do have a pack of rescue antibiotics in the cupboard. I was taught 'huff coughing' which really helped and its now no problem. So don't dispart and ask about rehab and make sure you've got the right antibiotic that targets the infection. Oh the scrub and wash is done here as a matter of course before going into hospital for a procedure . So please don't worry to much it may be treatable and if I were you I'd ask to see an ENT consultant to make sure your getting the proper antibiotic and I hope your feeling better soon.x

[Prettystuffed in reply to medway-lady]

Hi yes i came back MRSA positive after Hospital infusions . Treated same as you last swab clear. xx

[Vixen2 in reply to Prettystuffed]

Hi Prettystuffed. I think it’s quite bad, that you can’t ‘trust’ the cleanliness in a hospital. I’m wondering how long i’ve had it. It could have been causing all my ear infections. I’ve been getting very bad infection for 1.5 yrs. i’ve had 4 courses of antibiotics. I’m going to ring my infusion clinic.Glad your latest swab came back clear! X

[medway-lady in reply to Prettystuffed]

Good news and at least I can avoid it as never going into a hot tub again. lol I think so many times the wide spectrum antibiotics are used and really a proper sputum test is required. I'm so glad your clear now. xxx

[AgedCrone]

I think you should inform your infusion clinic straight away so that they can check to see if anybody else has contracted an infection.I have to have a Covid test 48 hrs prior to going in for an infusion, but no MRSA check.

[Vixen2 in reply to AgedCrone]

I told the infusion clinic straight away. They denied it was them. But a pharmacist i spoke to, thought it probably was from them.

[AgedCrone in reply to Vixen2]

Oh..I thought you said you hadn’t told your infusion clinic?That is disgraceful……they should at least set your mind at rest they will investigate & check other patients.I know clinics are very busy & short staffed….but infection control-should be a primary concern.

[Vixen2 in reply to AgedCrone]

I know. Especially with covid on the scene. I think we should all use hand sanitisers while we’re being ‘infused’. I don’t want to become obsessive about it. But i think i will whenever i have hospital appointments!

[AgedCrone in reply to Vixen2]

We are given hand gel whilst be infused & the HCA’s come & wipe down the stand after you have wheeled it to the loo.I am definitely not obsessive…but taking what precautions you feel comfortable with leads to peace of mind in my book.

I just wish all the hand washing was not so necessary…..now that it is getting so cold! Anyone know a hand cream that doesn’t take forever to rub in?