How Can An Infected Surgical Wound On The Abdomen Be Treated?

Posted on Mon, 29 May 2017

Question: Last August I had a large blister form on an old surgical scar (10 years) on my abdomen. It burst and serum came out. I has just traveled by plane. It became badly infected with cellulite and formed an abscess that was later cultured and found to have MRSA. It took three months and daily treatments, as well as oral antibiotics to heal. I've just flown from XXXXXXX to Nassau, Bahamas -- en route to a small island with a very minimal nurse-staffed medical clinic. There are new blisters on the same scar and they look ready to rupture. I have tea tree oil and some running alcohol with me, along with three random antibiotic pill regimens. I am supposed to fly from Nassau to the little island on Sunday and don't want to get really sick again. This is a 3-week long, desperately needed vacation. What should I do? Cover them now with bandaids? Clean with alcohol or tea tree oil? Then cover? Wait til they burst? Take the medication?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please see the detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! I have been through your question.

Related your concern and based on your previous history (MRSA infection) I suggest not to wait till they burst but to start as soon as possible antibiotics and of course should maintain this area clean with betadine or alcohol and tea tree oil.

Please can you tell me what kind of antibiotics have you in this moment.

I hope my answer helps you.
Feel free to ask me further.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (1 hour later)

Ok. I washed the area gently with Dial antibacterial soap. Then I wiped it with running alcohol, then tea tree oil, then again with running alcohol so the bandaids would adhere. I squirted some neoslorin spray onto each bandage, along with a drop of tea tree oil, and completely covered all of the blisters.

Oral antibiotics I have with me are:
Amoxicillin 875mg
Clindamycin 300mg
Ceohalexin 500mg

I don't want to take any antibiotics that won't help/aren't necessary, because I understand that's how MRSA was created!

Which of these would you advise? Should I take them prophetically, or wait to see if an infection starts?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
follow-up answer

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for writing back,

As per your query, you should know that antibiotics, however, aren't always necessary but in your case(with previous MRSA history) it's suggested to use clindamycin just for prevention.

If you have small skin blisters caused by MRSA, you should simply meet a doctor and s/he may just make an incision and drain them.

Furthermore, your above-mentioned methods for prevention seems fine, please continue to take care of them similarly.

I hope my answer helps you.
I wish you a quick recovery.
Regards.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee