I am paranoid about MRSA

[Bertha Venation]

I have an infected cat scratch on my left shin. It's covered now with triple antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Tell me it'll be all right . . . please.

Edited for MRSA, not MSRA

[lunatica]

1. Of course you'll be all right.

You're taking care of it and if it gets worse you're smart enough to go to the doctor. Relax and trust yourself and don't mess with it.

[Bertha Venation]

6. Thank you, Lunatica

[hlthe2b]

2. I think you mean MRSA...

Should you see major swelling, redness extending in streaks down your leg, develop a fever, you should seek medical care. Otherwise, sounds like you did the right things.

[Lionessa]

3. I've had CAMRSA which is the only type of MRSA the OP might get from a scratch,

And your description is not what I had, that sounds more like tetanus.

To the OP: You shouldn't have any problem, it's just a cat scratch. Carefully remove the scab daily to assure the it dries and heals from bottom up. Otherwise cat scratches for some reason can heal over the top and trap a pus cyst underneath. If that happens just open and drain it.

I would NOT use antibiotic oinment too much as it won't let the scratch dry out as it needs to.

[Bertha Venation]

9. Thank you, Lionessa

[hlthe2b]

14. re:

the signs indicated are generic to an infection that is not under control. It would apply to cat scratches as well.

NO, this has nothing to do with tetanus, which I am presuming the poster is current on tetanus vaccine (current within 10 years), but certainly the signs indicated have nothing to do with tetanus.

[Bertha Venation]

7. Thank you, hlthe2b

I appreciate your advice. Yes, I would seek medical care.

[Turbineguy]

4. There is some research

that claims oregano is effective against MRSA.

[Bertha Venation]

10. Interesting . . .

[Aristus]

5. With a cat scratch, the bug is more likely to be Pasteurella then MRSA.

But get checked out by your doctor anyway, if you're worried.

[Bertha Venation]

11. Thanks, Aristus

I know to take your medical advice under advisement.

[GoCubsGo]

8. Not the same pathogen, most likely.

The culprit for MRSA is Staphylococcus aureus. Cats usually carry Bartonella henselae, and in worst cases, requires only antibiotics to treat the infection. You could wind up with Cat Scratch Disease, but from everything I have read, it usually clears up on it's own, without needing major medical treatment. So, it's going to be alright.

[Bertha Venation]

12. I appreciate that, GoCubsGo

And I dig your username. Baseball is a big part of my life. Go Halos!

[undeterred]

13. When my mother was in the hospital they swabbed her nose for MRSA

and afterwards she told us she had a MENSA test.

She'd had a stroke and had some trouble getting words right, but we all thought that was really funny.

[applegrove]

15. My cat bit deep into my thumb one time. It got really infected and was really painful. Despite the

fact that cats have a reputation for cleaning themselves they are as dirty as any pet.