How to Use Bactrim for Mrsa

Staph infections are generally a nuisance, creating rashes, boils and other skin conditions, but rarely anything deadly. A new type of staph injection has arisen that is resistant to the common penicillin based antibiotics usually prescribed. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has led to deaths, but it can be treated with other forms of antibiotics, including Bactrim.

Instructions

Fighting MRSA with Bactrim

• 1

  See your doctor if you have a skin condition that is not going away. He will test to see if it is a staph infection and then prescribe the penicillin-based antibiotics. If those antibiotics don't work, meaning is it MRSA, the doctor will prescribe a new antibiotic such as Bactrim.

• 2

  Follow doctor's directions. The key to fighting off MRSA using these new antibiotics like Bactrim is to follow your doctor's directions to the letter. Antibiotics won't clear up the problem right away. It usually takes two to three days for the antibiotics to affect the staph bacteria, so don't be discouraged if nothing happens on the first day. You should also take the full regimen of antibiotics even if the infection appears to have cleared up. Stopping the medication early can cause the staph to once again multiply and this time it may be resistant to the antibiotics.

• 3

  Get some rest. The body is fighting a war inside and its needs its soldiers in the best possible shape. If you have been diagnosed with MRSA you should stay home from work and school and get plenty of sleep so your body can repair itself. The Bactrim, in conjunction with your own antibodies, should make short work of MRSA.

• 4

  Drink plenty of fluids. You body also needs fuel to beat the bacteria and you should drink plenty of fluids while taking Bactrim. Water will keep you hydrated and your cells in peak condition. Also, Bactrim may settle in the kidneys if not enough water is ingested throughout the day and may lead to kidney stones. Symptoms of a kidney stone include severe abdominal pain and blood in the urine.

• 5

  Watch for serious side effects. While Bactrim is effective against the deadly MRSA bacteria, the medication has also been known to cause death because of its ingredient sulfamethoxazole. It can cause severe blisters and purplish rash, progressive disintegration of the outer layer of the skin, sudden and severe liver damage, a severe blood disorder (agranulocytosis), and a lack of red and white blood cells because of a bone marrow disorder, according to drugs.com. If you notice any of these effects, call your doctor immediately.