Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For MRSA
Question: My girlfriend was pregnant and towards the end of the pregnancy she was getting these random bruises that would pop up on her legs... For one of these bruises, it got bigger and eventually it turned into a scab. She would complain that it itched and that it was really dry and irritating and there was nothing she could do but scratch it every now and then.. Anyways, I told her to put a bandage on it and what not and after about a month, it finally faded out and the bruise went away as well. Well about 2 weeks after we have our child, another bruise reoccurs on the side of her left knee. That too, eventually turned into dry skin and became very irriatating to her and it turned into a scab. I was frustrated by my girlfriend picking at it and so she got better about not picking at it, but it seemed like the size of the scab was becoming bigger. Fast forward 4 months to where we are today and that same scab is still there. It almost looks like a hole in the side of her knee. It has stayed about the same size, relatively comparable to the size of a nickel. Nothing deep, but still very strange looking. A bruise and a yellow color to the skin still surrounds the scab and it seems like the scab is not getting any better. I tell her almost everyday to go to a doctor to get it checked, but time is very limited with a newborn.. My question to you, I guess, would be what is it? Why do random bruises appear? And why do those bruises turn into scabs? Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Skin infection called MRSA
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question. When reading the question, I was not sure what to think, but the picture that you sent is incredible. This is not a minor problem and your girlfriend needs this evaluated immediately. A common cause of sores like this that tend to recur and look like the picture include MRSA infections - this stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Basically it is an infection caused by common skin bacteria (staph) that is resistant to common antibiotics (penicillin-like drugs). This is very important to evaluate and treat, because if these infections become any more extensive, given the resistance to antibiotics, can pose a serious health problem. I suggest that you make time TOMORROW to get this evaluated, cultured and treated. It has been 4 months since they originally appeared and there is no excuse for not having seen a doctor by now. I am being firm about this because of the importance of getting this evaluated as soon as possible.
I hope that this helps.
Dr. Tim
Skin infection called MRSA
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question. When reading the question, I was not sure what to think, but the picture that you sent is incredible. This is not a minor problem and your girlfriend needs this evaluated immediately. A common cause of sores like this that tend to recur and look like the picture include MRSA infections - this stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Basically it is an infection caused by common skin bacteria (staph) that is resistant to common antibiotics (penicillin-like drugs). This is very important to evaluate and treat, because if these infections become any more extensive, given the resistance to antibiotics, can pose a serious health problem. I suggest that you make time TOMORROW to get this evaluated, cultured and treated. It has been 4 months since they originally appeared and there is no excuse for not having seen a doctor by now. I am being firm about this because of the importance of getting this evaluated as soon as possible.
I hope that this helps.
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Okay, thank you for your quick response. I will have her make an appt immediately. I have been telling her for months. I hope it is nothing serious and can be treated. What do you thinnk? How is the process for treating this?
Brief Answer:
Erythema nodosum
Detailed Answer:
Upon further review of the literature and the picture which you sent, I believe that your girlfriend has a problem called Erythema Nodosum. If you google images this condition, I think that you will be impressed with the number of pictures that are similar. I was clued into this because of the additional lesions that you can see on her calf in the picture you provided. In most cases this is unexplained and usually goes away without treatment. Regardless, she needs to be seen as soon as possible and any potentially infected areas treated. In most cases, this is not serious, but there are a number of unusual underlying causes. I will leave the explanation of the finer points to the Doctor that sees her tomorrow.
Dr. Tim
Erythema nodosum
Detailed Answer:
Upon further review of the literature and the picture which you sent, I believe that your girlfriend has a problem called Erythema Nodosum. If you google images this condition, I think that you will be impressed with the number of pictures that are similar. I was clued into this because of the additional lesions that you can see on her calf in the picture you provided. In most cases this is unexplained and usually goes away without treatment. Regardless, she needs to be seen as soon as possible and any potentially infected areas treated. In most cases, this is not serious, but there are a number of unusual underlying causes. I will leave the explanation of the finer points to the Doctor that sees her tomorrow.
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Is it contagious an any way? And is it from her pregnancy or is it because of a lack on nutrition?
Brief Answer:
No, no and no
Detailed Answer:
No, this is not contagious. There is some evidence of its association with the bacteria that causes strep throat, but as I stated, in most cases it is not understood what the cause is exactly. It is not from her pregnancy and it can occur in non-pregnant patients. And no, I can find no evidence of its association with poor nutrition.
I am certain that you will have more answers after someone has taken a better look at it in person. I will be curious what they say, so after you have taken her in, please let me know what they think.
Good luck tomorrow - please get her in to see someone!
Dr. Tim
No, no and no
Detailed Answer:
No, this is not contagious. There is some evidence of its association with the bacteria that causes strep throat, but as I stated, in most cases it is not understood what the cause is exactly. It is not from her pregnancy and it can occur in non-pregnant patients. And no, I can find no evidence of its association with poor nutrition.
I am certain that you will have more answers after someone has taken a better look at it in person. I will be curious what they say, so after you have taken her in, please let me know what they think.
Good luck tomorrow - please get her in to see someone!
Dr. Tim
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
