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My brother in law has been diagnosed with MRSA. They have ...

Sent to Health Experts October 8 2006 at 6:22 PM
   

My brother in law has been diagnosed with MRSA. They have told us it is now caused a blood infection. He has been moved to ICU and they put him on a breathing machine Saturday night. I need to know what his chances are for survival. I have not asked my sister yet, as she is very upset and does not need any morbid questions put to her.

My husband and I looked up MRSA on the "Mayo Clinic" web site and this does not sound good. They did a CT on him and are now saying there is a spot on his left lung and this kidneys have cysts in them. His urine has turned to a milkey color.

He is an X-Ray tech at a hospital in Houston TX. He developed an abcess on his left arm just above the elbow in July. He went to the doctor and they said they could not lance it because it was too close to his vein so they treated it with anitbodies. He seemed to be fine and the sore looked as though it had healed up. He pulled his back Thursday, a week ago, and went to the doctor for that. They gave him anti-inflames and a steroid pack. He started taking these that Friday. The following Wendsday, last Wends, my sister took him to ER suffering from delusions. He was shaking badley and had no idea where he was, what day it was or who anyone was. It got worse so he has been sedated since Friday. All they said was that he had a blood infection called MRSA and they needed to run a lot of tests.

I need to be strong for my sister and would just like to know what the percentage of survival rate is so that I may be prepaired to better help my sister and her children. I have not been able to speak with his doctors and I don't know how much they would tell me anyway. I am would never give my sister grim news or want to upset her anymore than she already is. I am 48 years old, have rased 3 childred and know better than to interfere with anything that she may have been told be his doctors.

Thank you in advance
Xan Trujillo

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $8
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October 8 2006 at 7:15 PM (53 minutes and 20 seconds later)
         
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Xan,
Hi. I am sorry that your brother in law is going throught this and I realize that this is a very difficult time for you. I have been around MRSA for the better part of my career and it is a nasty type of bacteria. Since it is in the bloodstream, I wish that I could tell you that your brother will be ok or that he won't be. There really won't be any way to tell that until a couple of more days. He is likely being treated with the strongest IV antibiotics already and this is the key to killing the bacteria. I wouldn't be concerned about the outcome of your brother in law just yet. Just you being there with him and taking care of your sister is the most important thing that you can do. Any extra worry or stress will not help anyone at this point. Be with your family and take it day by day. I hope this answer helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. James


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October 9 2006 at 10:27 AM (15 hours and 12 minutes and 14 seconds later)
         
Reply to CorpsmanUp's Post: I was looking for the fatality rate. How do they isolate this type of infection and what to expect as far as recovery.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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October 9 2006 at 10:35 AM (8 minutes and 2 seconds later)
         
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The mortality rate for this ranges from 15-30+%. I would say that he is in the higher percentage. The bacteria is isolated by wide spread antibiotics of the strongest type. Vancomycin IV is usually the drug of choice. Recovery is not a factor yet. MRSA is resistant to the most common antibiotics used to treat these infections. The main focus now is finding what antibiotic will work to fight this bacteria.



I will add a link for more detailed information:

The Economic Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Infection in New York City Hospitals


Edited by CorpsmanUp! on October 9 2006 at 10:37 AM

Quote: You guys are the Marine's doctors; There's no better in the business than a Navy Corpsman...." Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, U.S.M.C

If you find my answer helpful please honor my efforts and click the Green Accept button.
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CorpsmanUp -- Former U.S.Navy, Hospital Corpsman -- 100% Positive Feedback on 908 Health Accepts
Over 4 years of providing direct, clinical medical care.
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