[LeahJet]

Originally Posted by danfif

So to catagorize a lower socioeconomic level as being the cause is inaccurate in my opinion.

I believe you misunderstand. The term "lower socio-economic level" was used to describe the volume of ER patients that are seen with this problem. Meaning that it is not only the poor that get them....that we just may see more in the ER. (due to lack of insurance and mindset)

[chadash]

Originally Posted by plumrn

We had a Doc prescribe Bactroban, if I remember right??, in both nostrils daily. She had MRSA infections.

I know this is gross, but do nose pickers get more staph?

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by LeahJet

I am so glad that this thread helped.

Phisoderm is good also. But if Dial does it, I think I would stick to that!

I could see Phisoderm being a good idea, too. Soaps like that don't alter the acid mantle of the skin, so the skin is able to do what it's supposed to do, naturally - act as a protective layer. Sometimes if we use too many chemicals (yes, like antibacterial soaps) we really screw up our body's natural defense system.

We used to use Baby Magic for our babies in the NICU. Last year, we switched to Cetaphil, because it doesn't change the pH of the skin. The preemies have such a thin layer of skin to begin with that we want it to be in the best shape possible to repel infection.

[rjflyn]

I talked with the ARPN that works at the hospital I currently am assigned at. The discussion was along the lines of what is being said here. If I offended by making the comment of most the people having them being dirty and poor, I apologize now. As one of the other posters noted being in the ER unfortunately we see a large majority of un to under insured patient.

She did mention that from her reading most of these so called "bug bites, risens" or abscesses are infact MRSA. One interesting note she made thought that I found interesting was that one of her supervising physicans does not give antibiotics and on followup post draining look just as good as the ones that get antibiotic coverage.

Rj

[NurseHERay]

[quote]

Originally Posted by all4schwa

There are definetly increased skin infections among meth users, but I'm not sure why, if someone could clear that up for me, that would be great.

I work at a county jail and deal with lots of meth users with skin infections. Not sure how true this is but I was told the lithium out of battery strips used in manufacturing meth causes sores. Also, they report their skin is "crawling" so they are continuosly scratching. I also have lots of alleged "Spider bites"......LOL some even capture, kill, bag and attach it to their sick call slip!

[RN@34]

I posted this on another thread, but had 23yo friend (RN) that died of what was said to be community acquired MRSA that invaded his lung tissue. Very scary!! We see this all the time on med-surg and it is about 1/2 post-op patients & 1/2 "spider bites".

I started at the beginning of this school year having my two boys come in and immediately wash their hands with antibacterial soap. Can't control them at school, but can do what I can at home.

[TinyNurse]

i doubt this has to do with katrina, but as a travel nurse, i can honestly say the most I&d's i've seen were in san diego california.........mostly from ivda, several daily, some admitted some not. tons of vanc used......( to the point where i thought vanc would become immune)

[debbiebuck]

Our facility is in Southwest GA. We also have had a lot of " spider bites " which require I&D. These patient have increased in number especially over the last year or so. Most of these also grow out MRSA which can be worrisome. I also have not thought of the "Meth" which is also rampant in this area unfortunately.

Are there any studies going on regarding this? I haven't heard of any at this point.

[elizabells]

A recent HCP mag I saw...I think it was Family Practice, or something like that, had a whole article on meth bites - if someone comes in with what looks like scabies, assess for meth.