My brother is diabetic and now has mrsa,what are the dangers?

he has a boil on the back of his calf and can't walk. the hospital has him on a iv pump with antibiotics and it seems to still be getting worse. i am wanting to visit but they say it is very contagious.what can i do!?

As everyone knows, diabetics have a more difficult time healing from wounds than do people with a normal sugar level. Of course it is contagious. Hmmmm. I'll be willing to bet that if you put on your isolation gown and wear gloves and wash hands after you see your brother...you will be just fine.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph infection that is resistant to methicillin and other commonly used antibiotics in the same class, including penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin.

Recently, there was a teenager who was said to have died from MRSA. This is a terrible tragedy especially since it can be treated. I hope to give info regarding this and put to rest the fears that I believe are being fueled by the media.

1. What is MRSA?

Staphylococcus aureus is a species of bacterium commonly found on the skin and/or in the noses of healthy people. Although it is usually harmless at these sites, it may occasionally get into the body through breaks in the skin such as abrasions, cuts, wounds, surgery sites and cause infections. These infections may be mild like pimples or boils or serious when it gets into the blood stream.

It is the staph infection that a lot of antibiotics are useless to treat. However, there are antibiotics that can treat it. For instance, the drug of choice to treat MRSA is Vancomyicin.


2. How does one "catch" MRSA?

MRSA is a contact infection. You must touch it to catch it.

3. How do you keep from getting MRSA?

Handwashing is the number one way to keep from getting an infection. Whether that infection be the common cold or MRSA. A kindergarten teacher says that a person should wash their hands as long as it takes to sing the ABC song.


If you get a cut or a scratch, wash the site with antibacterial soap, keep it clean, and cover it with a band aid.

Avoid touching other people's personal items. For instance, in Gym class don't use someone elses towel or razor.

4. Diagnosis of MRSA

The only way that MRSA can be diagnoised is if your doctor orders a culture to be taken from the area that is suspected of the infection. This is a simple painless test. They take a cotton swab and run it over the area and send it to lab.

Only then, can MRSA be diagnoised for sure.



5. Treatment for MRSA

Depending on the location of the MRSA infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. The doctor may have to drain the wound or open it to let it drain naturally. Whatever and which ever, your doctor needs to be involved.

Like any infection, if your doctor prescribes antibiotics, it is important that you take all the doses that are prescribed.

The lab will run something called a sensitivity test. This will say what antibiotics can be used to treat the infection.



I believe that the Media has stirred up undue panic about MRSA. MRSA was discovered in the 60's and really is nothing new. People are keeping kids home from school because of it. If a person takes the proper precautions they can avoid getting the "super bug". If a person gets MRSA, there are treatments.

Good Luck.

My sister had that and is also diabetic. She got well, it just took longer. You can visit and be safe just don't touch any open sores. It's not an airborne bacteria.

he shouldn't have ate to much sugar its so unhealthy to fight it u have to run miles and it will help diabetic kids but I'm sorry about your brother loosing weight can also help so ya