Dialysis and infections

[geoffcamp]

I would like to share some and see if my experiences are shared or I'm the only one.

I have had probably 20 surgeries for a good dialysis access. Nothing has worked, everything clots. I've been using a chest cath for years now. I've had infections mostly site infections. Now I think I might have MRSA. I never have a fever but even tough I take extremely good care of my site I still have drainage at times. Seems to come and go. Sometimes I get cuts or blisters that have white drainage too. Usually I would think blisters would be clear or maybe blood red. I think it's from in center dialysis. It's just not very clean. And I hate to be critical of others but I see A LOT of other patients who do not take care of themselves. Open wounds and such. And I see flying bugs and even nays from time to time in the center. I have informed EVERYONE at the facility and it gets better for 6 months or so and then I have to complain again.

How do I find out if I actually have MRSA?  Anyone else gone through this?  Seeking advise.

Thanks all.

--Geoff

[obsidianom]

You can have the center do a culture of the drainage at the site and at your nostrils to see if it grows out MRSA. Why do you think it is MRSA? Have you had failures with standard antibiotics?   MRSA is a specific bacteria (staph) and even severe bacteremia can be non MRSA.   
If you are really worried you can ask for blood cultures too , for bacteremia. If negative then you are dealing with local site issues only. You could ask for mupericin (topical antibiotic) for the site . It tends to be the best at local issues.

[brenda seal]

A simple blood test will show if you have MRSA . I beg you to demand a test if you suspect you have this infection - the sooner the better ! I do not wish to alarm you but my husband Laurie passed away in August and MRSA was listed on his death  certificate as the number one cause of his death . He was treated in hospital for 12 days with IV antibiotics but did not respond to the treatment and his condition worsened by the day . I am now riddled with guilt that I did not force him to go to hospital sooner . He was on in centre dialysis using a chest catheter as his access . He became unwell after his treatment on the Saturday but refused to go back to hospital until his next scheduled dialysis on the following Tuesday , by which time he was very sick and admitted to hospital immediately his neph was called in . They ripped his catheter out and replaced it with one in his groin . He had been treated for MRSA  successfully in late May - early June .
I took care of him to the best of my ability and kept him as clean as possible - used every antibacterial product I could lay my hands on and sat by his side every minute of every dialysis session to ensure the staff followed correct hygiene procedures . Unfortunately it was not enough . I should have got him to the hospital sooner .
If you have read my previous posts you will know Laurie had many other health issues and complications which contributed to his contracting MRSA but please be vigilant and do not delay getting treatment as this infection gets much worse very quickly .

[obsidianom]

A simple blood test will show if you have MRSA . I beg you to demand a test if you suspect you have this infection - the sooner the better ! I do not wish to alarm you but my husband Laurie passed away in August and MRSA was listed on his death  certificate as the number one cause of his death . He was treated in hospital for 12 days with IV antibiotics but did not respond to the treatment and his condition worsened by the day . I am now riddled with guilt that I did not force him to go to hospital sooner . He was on in centre dialysis using a chest catheter as his access . He became unwell after his treatment on the Saturday but refused to go back to hospital until his next scheduled dialysis on the following Tuesday , by which time he was very sick and admitted to hospital immediately his neph was called in . They ripped his catheter out and replaced it with one in his groin . He had been treated for MRSA  successfully in late May - early June .
I took care of him to the best of my ability and kept him as clean as possible - used every antibacterial product I could lay my hands on and sat by his side every minute of every dialysis session to ensure the staff followed correct hygiene procedures . Unfortunately it was not enough . I should have got him to the hospital sooner .
If you have read my previous posts you will know Laurie had many other health issues and complications which contributed to his contracting MRSA but please be vigilant and do not delay getting treatment as this infection gets much worse very quickly .

I am so sorry about your loss. You are correct that vigilance is key. If you suspect bacteremia , dont wait.

I do want to point one thing out about MRSA. It is a staph bacteria that is resistant to standard antibiotics like cephazolin   and  methicillin.
Here is a good description:


Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. It is also called oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA). MRSA is any strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed, through the process of natural selection, resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, which include the penicillins (methicillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, etc.) and the cephalosporins. Strains unable to resist these antibiotics are classified as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, or MSSA. The evolution of such resistance does not cause the organism to be more intrinsically virulent than strains of Staphylococcus aureus that have no antibiotic resistance, but resistance does make MRSA infection more difficult to treat with standard types of antibiotics and thus more dangerous.

That is the key. The bacteria is not more virulant, just more difficult to kill with standard antibiotics. Non -MRSA ifections can be just as dangerous and kill just as fast. Any central line infection is quite dangerous.

[geoffcamp]

Thank you. I will get a test ASAP. I think I might have it because it keeps coming back and antibiotics do not seem to clear up any more. Just concerned and wanted to validate my concern and need to get tested.

--Geoff.

[noahvale]

**

[kit78]

Please go get tested NOW....   I lost my brother 4 yrs. ago to every super bug out there.  Do NOT fool around with that.  I would go to the ER right now if I were you.  Please go G and let us know the outcome.

[Riki]

Are you not tested regularly for MRSA and VRE??  I'm swabbed every 6 months, after I come out of hospital, and before and after I go away on trips and am dialyzed in other centres.. I thought that was standard procedure...

[jeannea]

It is standard with hospital admissions and on a regular basis in the center. They should know if currently there is a strain at the center. Hopefully that's not what he has. But I agree with the others. Whatever it is, get it checked and treated ASAP.