Question 1

i have had mrsa in my nose twice. does that mean i am a carrier? how can i tell if it is also on my skin? no skin lesions? just in the nose.

Accepted Answer

RELAX: If no sores on skin, do not culture it. If staph in nose, Mupirocin ointment is effective and easy to use.

Question 2

i have an active mrsa infection in my nose that is not responding to mucuprin and now have severe headache, ear fullness and pain, weakness, lethargy, ?

Accepted Answer

May need antibiotic: Mupirocin ointment will not cure a nasal soft tissue infection.  It may eliminate nasal colonization with mrsa.  If you have a significant infection in your nose you need a systemic antibiotic like septra (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) or Minocycline to which the MRSA is sensitive.

Question 3

i want to see a specialist because my nose keeps getting dry and cracks and then i get mrsa in my nose. what type of doctor should i see.

Accepted Answer

An ENT: would probably be the best choice.

Question 4

if my test for mrsa in my nose is positive, should i visit a friend and stay at her house when she just had surgery and has a wound that is healing?

Accepted Answer

MRSA: You can visit your friend as long as you do not touch her or the wound. Staph is seldom transmitted casually. You do not say why you were being tested, but attempts to rid yourself of this colonization can be done using Mupirocin ointment (Bactoban) and bathing solely with  a Chlorhexidine containing soap, since if your nose is colonized your skin surface will almost invariably be as well.

Question 5

so if i had mrsa in my nose a little over a month ago, and i want to get a tragus (ear) piercing, should i be okay to get it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: As long as you are not currently sick with an infection (meaning symptoms such as fever), you're ok for piercing provided you get it done by someone trained, using proper sterile techniques. If it becomes infected, MRSA may be present which makes treatment more difficult and longer.

Question 6

positive today for mrsa in my nose very sore throat chronic cough headache puffy sore scalp can this all be related to the spread of untreated mrsa?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Mrsa colonization by itself causes no problems, but puts you at risk for invasive disease if you have major events, like surgery.  Mrsa is an aggressive pathogen, so it isn't likely the cause of chronic sore throats or headaches.  Unnecessary treatment of MRSA colonization leads to other problems like increased resistance to other antibiotics as well.

Question 7

i have nose mrsa can my partner n her daughter catch it?

Accepted Answer

Carrier state: The inner lining of the nose is a common breeding ground for germs. The moisture supports the water needs and any drainage feeds them. The human tendency to touch their nose several times per hour both provides germs access to and a chance to be spread as the fingers touch other objects.Antibiotic ointment at the nasal entrance, and or oral antibiotics can reduce the chance of spread

Question 8

what does mrsa look like in the nose?

Accepted Answer

Depends if infected: Mrsa can colonize the nose and can be found on a nasal swab without causing any symptoms or infection. If infection is present it can range anywhere from pus filled pimples looking like small insect bites to bigger abscesses.  It can also present as inflammation/infection of hair follicles ( folliculitis).

Question 9

why does mrsa harbor  in the nose yet it is not resp transmitted?

Accepted Answer

MRSA: Staphylococcus aureus (in this case methicillin-resistant) is part of our normal bacterial flora.  It is not until it gains entry into various areas of our body that it becomes a pathogen. This often occurs with disruption in the skin and mucous membranes. It can, in fact, be respiratorily transmitted under the the proper circumstances. This is a complex subject that cannot be fully addressed here.

Question 10

i had mrsa before. it kept coming back but i haven't had it in about 3 years now. can i get it again? worried because i have a knot in my nose

Accepted Answer

Yes you can : We are all colonized with bacteria on us and in us. After having a MRSA infection, it is probably one of your colonizers. So, it could be the cause of the knot. You should see your doctor and have it checked.

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Doctor answers about:

I have mrsa in my nose

A member asked:

I have had mrsa in my nose twice. does that mean i am a carrier? how can i tell if it is also on my skin? no skin lesions? just in the nose.

A member asked:

I have an active mrsa infection in my nose that is not responding to mucuprin and now have severe headache, ear fullness and pain, weakness, lethargy, ?

A member asked:

I want to see a specialist because my nose keeps getting dry and cracks and then i get mrsa in my nose. what type of doctor should i see.

A member asked:

If my test for mrsa in my nose is positive, should i visit a friend and stay at her house when she just had surgery and has a wound that is healing?

A member asked:

So if i had mrsa in my nose a little over a month ago, and i want to get a tragus (ear) piercing, should i be okay to get it?

A member asked:

Positive today for mrsa in my nose very sore throat chronic cough headache puffy sore scalp can this all be related to the spread of untreated mrsa?

A member asked:

I have nose mrsa can my partner n her daughter catch it?

A member asked:

What does mrsa look like in the nose?

A member asked:

Why does mrsa harbor in the nose yet it is not resp transmitted?

A member asked:

I had mrsa before. it kept coming back but i haven't had it in about 3 years now. can i get it again? worried because i have a knot in my nose

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