MRSA possibly masking MAC?

Hi @rasmusje and welcome to Connect. That must be confusing having MRSA grow from the sample, but being told the CT looks like MAC.

I wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @windwalker, @sueinmn @pfists and @megan123 as they may be able to offer you support.

Back to you @rasmusje how long ago were you told that the CT looks like MAC?

About a year and a half ago which was followed by a Bronchoscopy that grew MRSA. I took antibiotics and had another CT a year later....more lung damage so another Bronchoscopy which again grew MRSA. I was put on Zvox but had a severe reaction so then put on Docycycline for 3 weeks. I had another CT yesterday...waiting for the results.

@rasmusje Hi there. Wow! I had not had a member come on board here with MRSA in their lungs. Are you dealing (mentally) with it ok? Please keep me posted on your upcoming results. Are you experiencing a lot of coughing or other symptoms?

windwalker and rasmusje ===== My first sputum sample (Mayo's Rochester) showed I had MRSA and it scared me at first. But it seemed to be easily eradicated. Much easier than pseudomonas. MRSA showed up two/three times in the beginning but hasn't in a few years now. I think you will be rid of it quickly. Hope so anyway.

Some coughing and wheezing ....especially at night. I’m not sure if I am more afraid of MRSA or MAC. My dad had MAC.

Thank you....that is encouraging.

@rasmusje Wow - both MAC & MRSA can be scary. MRSA, like MAC, is everywhere, and even though many of us carry it in our bodies, we do not necessarily have a clinical level infection. With bronchiectasis, I think they treat it because it is another opportunistic infection that attacks those with other health issues. If you are symptomatic with cough and sputum, you need to ask your doc if you may be infectious and take recommended precautions - unlike MAC, MRSA can be transmitted to others. When my Mom had it, she was placed in isolation in her assisted living apartment until 2 weeks of treatment was complete (they actually treated her much longer.)

sueinmn…… I'm curious, when you mother had MRSA -- was it in her lungs or topical? I understood my Mayo doctor to say the lungs were not contagious. Perhaps I misunderstood

@auntnanny Hi - At various times in her later years, she had both types. When she had MRSA in her lungs, she was coughing and producing a lot of mucus, so we were advised to treat it as contagious by the MN Dept of Health - boy was she mad about that! And the wound infection was definitely contagious - in her case it was acquired from another resident of her assisted living facility, who had in turn acquired it in the hospital. Both of my daughters are RN's (one in a pediatric ER, the other in a high school) and both told me MRSA is considered transmittable if the person is symptomatic and not under treatment with proper antibiotics. For myself, with several implanted joints, I don't mess around with that stuff - my cousin lost her hip implant to a MRSA infection and has been in a wheelchair without a complete joint for 10 years because no one will take a chance on giving her a new joint.

sueimnm Thank you for your response