Post biopsy infection

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kathryni
kathryni Member Posts: 73
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
Post biopsy infection
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  • kathryni
    kathryni Member Posts: 73
    edited May 2008

    I'm not sure where would be a good place to ask this, so I'm going to try here.



    I had an excisional biopsy on 4/22 (pathology showed ADH but no malignancy!) and at my 2 week check with the doctor she noticed a spot in my armpit and it turns out that it's a staph infection. I have been put on antibiotics (I took the post-op prophylactic antibiotics for 5 days- the doctor let me stop early because they were making me sick) and it seems to be a little better, but I'm not sure if there's anything else I can or should be doing. The doctor didn't think that the surgery caused the staph, but she really didn't know. All I know is that I'm uncomfortable and not feeling great.



    Has anyone had a post-op staph infection? How long did it take before it got better and you got back to feeling normal?



    Kat

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  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 1,989
    edited May 2008

    Hi Kat - I had a post-op staph infection after my mastectomy and Diep surgery on March 3. It showed up on Day 7 after my surgery - and I was hospitalized for 11 days on two IV broad-spectrum antibiotics, then sent home with a week's supply of very strong oral antibiotics (Zyvox). It was devastating.....it reopened my abdominal incision, which I'm still packing. Keep taking the antibiotics - take acidophilus so you won't end up with stomach problems (or eat a lot of live-culture yogurt) - drink tons of water - and if you feel that it's not improving, call your doctor and see if they can't give you a stronger antibiotics. Good luck and I hope you heal MUCH MUCH faster than I did!

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  • kathryni
    kathryni Member Posts: 73
    edited May 2008

    Thanks for the reply.



    This is sadly not my first staph infection, but I was swabbed 6 months ago and was not colonized then and haven't had any problems with it in over a year. The theory is that I may have gotten it from the hospital I had the surgery in, which really truly disturbs me.



    I'm taking Bactrim DS and Levaquin for it and going back on Tuesday for a check. If it's not resolved they're going to swab it and make sure it's not antibiotic resistant (MRSA), in which case I'll have to be treated inpatient (which will not work well for me!). So far it doesn't look any different, but it hasn't quite been 48 hours yet, so hopefully it's just slow to respond.



    Thanks for the advice, I hope everything settles and heals for you, I can't imagine how frustrating that must be.



    Kat

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  • Marian61627
    Marian61627 Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2008

    Kate,  anytime there is a puncture into the body there is the possibility of staph and strep entering that break.  My experience is that whenever a doc says that it didn't occur during "blank" it is a CYA.  Very likely you did get the staph from your procedure and no one in the medical environement is going to say that it occurred there.  They will tell you "you could have picked it up anywhere" or "you could have had a skin abrasion (pimple or cut)).. they don't want you to point back at medicine.  Frankly, you are usually immune to your own staph (your home and body staph).  That is a scientific proven fact.  The medical community is riddled with the stuff and since it is not your own personal staph you are suceptible!  Did they run a staph culture?  They tend to avoid them these days but they (cultures) are of help in the small chance that it is the type of staph that is more difficult to treat.  Have them run a blood culture for staph!  It's important that you stay on your antibiotics for the full duration too..  Sorry you are going through this  staph is something we should all be careful with and if it turns out to be the more difficult staph you should always be careful to follow the stringent hygiene protocal that goes along with the dx..  Good luck and I hope this is over for you soon!

    Finally, you said your were on antibiotics - are they the intravenous type?  Ask your Doc if you SHOULD be on the intravenous type if you are taking pills.  I know it's a pain but staph is a difficult bug to kill off with the pills..

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2008

    Swimangel:  What an ordeal you have been through.  Packing an open incision is no fun.  I hope your situation resolves and heals quickly, with no further problems.

    Kat:  Prayers for you too - that your body responds soon to the treatment and that your infection clears quickly and completely (and as an outpatient).

    No MRSA for anyone please!!

    Healing thoughts to both of you.

    Dukemom

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  • flyrzfan
    flyrzfan Member Posts: 557
    edited May 2008

    kat - my post op issues have been no where as severe as the ladies who have si graciously offerred up advice already....just wanted to let you now my heart gors out and im sayinh my prayers this clears up for you....

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