I have a dilema concerning MRSA?

I had a hair transplant on jan.10th. I had half my staples from the donor site removed on jan.21st. 3 or 4 days later I noticed the area was swollen. I went back to the hair dr. on feb.1. He cultured the area and put me on cefadroxil 500mg 3x/daily +bactroban cream on the infected area with hibiclens 2x/daily. within three days the infection was almost gone. On feb.5th. my dr. called to tell me my lab work came back positive for MRSA. He said I'd be fine, just finish the antibiotic. He said it was odd since MRSA shouldn't respond to cefadroxil. I saw my primary care physicain on the 6th. He put me on the Baxtrum after confering with a disease specialist. He had me finish the other antibiotic. He mentioned I'd be fine but might be a carrier which won't affect my life. He said I must've got it where I got my transplant. The hair dr.said it was remotely possible.He also said I shouldn't be on the Baxtrum. He feels you treat the patient not the lab results. Who's right? What now?

I have a dilema concerning MRSA?

Every doctor knows that you go by lab results. Sounds to me like the hair doc is trying to diffuse blame from himself for giving you MRSA. You do treat the patient, according to the lab results. Finish you meds, trust your primary care MD. As for responding to 2 differerent meds, it is remotely possible you had 2 different infectious processes at the same time. As I said, I'd trust the PMD who doesn't have an ulterior motive to steer you wrong--and at least has the sense to order and go by lab data.

I have a dilema concerning MRSA?

There are several issues. It is moot where you got the MRSA. It is probable you got it during the transplant as its a bug that is more likely to be in a medical environment than living on a community patient. However, its possible you had it on yr skin before the op. Second, the infection was clearing up due to topical mupirocin/bactorban, not the oral drug. You should certainly be on Baxtrum by mouth, which covers MRSA, and in my opinion continue topical bactroban for several weeks. Also, take a nasal and skin and pharyngeal swab fro MRSA a month or so after everything has cleared up. If you are clear: fine, If nasal swab positive, consider nasal antibiotic ointment for three weeks to eliminate carriage - it's a fair chance you'll get rid of it -and no-one wants to be a carrier. You would have to notify hospitals and doctors of your carrier status and they would possibly not want to have you around. This is a personal opinion only and is without prejudice. Confer with your own primary physician.

I have a dilema concerning MRSA?

I think the hair doc is right. My rationale being that if you dont have to be on antibiotics, you shouldnt take them. Now, I am assuming that the infection went away right? The second antibiotic will not rid the bacteria from your skin. You are now colonized. The hair doc is also right that this will not affect your life. The only significance is that MRSA is resistant to more antibiotics than regular Staph, but 50% of all staph infections are MRSA. This doesnt even mean you are more likely to get another Staph infection- there is, and always was Staphylococcus bacteria on your skin. In a decade, the term will not exist; it will just be a fact of life that staph aureus is resistant to a certain set of antibiotics.