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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
Dear Doc Yosef,
Over the past three days, a large spider bite-like area has developed on my thigh. It’s red, hot to the touch, and it hurts. What can I do to make it go away?
Bit in Bowie
Dear Bit in Bowie,
Make an appointment over here in Student Health Service for us to take a look at this “spider bite.”
Most of the time, it is NOT an arachnid bite at all or for that matter an insect bite either. We are familiar
with such infected skin sores that may look like big, angry, pimple-like boils.
It may be a bacterial skin infection called MRSA which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus, a type of staph bacterial infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics. Approximately 25% to
30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose
with staph bacteria.
Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the
most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of
these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be
treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause
very serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream
infections, and pneumonia).
Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of
the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not
share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.
Many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require
antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider. We may
culture the pus to fully identify the bacteria and the best antibiotics to use.
If after visiting Student Health Service, the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact us
again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare
provider.
It is possible to have a staph or MRSA skin infection come back or recur after it is treated properly. To
prevent this from happening, follow your healthcare provider’s directions while you have the infection,
and follow the following prevention steps after the infection is gone:
Practice good hygiene:
1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
5. Change and launder your bath towels and bed sheets more frequently.
I’ll be on the lookout for you, Bit.
Wishing you good health,
Doc Yosef
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