MRSA Redux

[smhufflepuff]

Last week, the kids' noses looked a bit moist again. So into the vet (for them) and human doctor (for me) we all trooped for a culture. Decided to go whole hog and assess the possibility that I'm an asymptomatic carrier. We have word back from all medical sources: I'm not colonized; they are.

Fortunately, the bacteria remains sensitive to the Amikacin, so I'll be bringing the vial back in for them to mix up into the drops again.

*sigh*

 

[LovinHedgies]

Wow, MRSA is such a scary thing and so hard to get rid of! Good luck with the medications, and I hope all the hogs are feelings better soon.

 

[menagerie]

I'm so sorry that you are all going through this again.

Once you started the Amikacin last time, how long where they on it? You might want to go for a long treatment to make sure you wipe it out. I'm thinking 21 - 30 days. That's how long we treat respiratory infections in rats to be sure that we've knocked them out otherwise they keep coming back.

 

[cindyv3737]

I'm sorry you are going through this again. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Once you started the Amikacin last time, how long where they on it? You might want to go for a long treatment to make sure you wipe it out.

They were on the Amikacin from Jan 5th through the 21st... 17 days. Their vet had a similar thought... extending the treatment window.

Odd though, that both their cultures came back negative after treatment. Guess a tiny bit can lurk within and cause the problem to resurface, but not be picked up on their post-treatment cultures?

I've been busy trying to rule out possible environmental contaminants that could have re-infected them and am coming up short. Maybe you can see something I haven't thought of? Their houses and toys have been bleached; dishes bleached; accessories like nail clippers bleached; all their linens have been washed in super hot water with vinegar and tumbled dried on high. Multiple times... on all counts. Aside from a quick pet from hedgiedaddy, I've really been the only one to handle them as of late... and I'm clean.

Though, perhaps, it's back to the tiny, tiny bit wasn't killed with the first round of meds.

 

[mercynursie]

I hate to be a pessimist but is it possible that someone else or another of your pets in the family may be carrier? :hmm:

 

[Nancy]

Oh no! I am so sorry your poor babies are sick again. How horrible for all of you. Sending lots of hugs and prayers for a complete recovery this time.

Hugs

 

[smhufflepuff]

I hate to be a pessimist but is it possible that someone else or another of your pets in the family may be carrier? :hmm:

Yeah, I've considered that. The only non-human critters we have are the hedgies. And human critters and me, Hedgiedaddy, and the kids. So far, I've been cleared as not colonized. Hedgiedaddy is unlikely to have re-infected them without infecting me as he hasn't really interacted much with them since they were pronounced MRSA-free, but we've interacted plenty. The kids are just here on weekends and haven't touched the hedgies since they were sick at the end of last year... one of them gets hives from Tex anyhow, so he's definitely off limits.

Had I tested positive, Hedgiedaddy would have brought himself and the kids in for testing. He's currently disinclined to do that now that I've been declared free of it.

Little boy just got his meds... not pleased. Satin will be later and, I think, handle things a touch better.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Ten days since re-starting meds. The kids appear happy - behaviorally speaking, they are doing great. Yesterday, they even played a trick on me... not sure how they did it, but they both were hiding behind their wheels when I went to check on them in the morning. Almost killed me when I couldn't find Satin in her home at first - she was very well disguised. Their noses are still a bit wet - Tex's more so than Satin's. And I've just bought a bunch of blue lights.

Yep. Blue lights. Not sure if this puts me in the "wow, that's such forward-thinking" or "wow, you've sailed right over the edge, haven't you" category. But I've been reading laboratory and clinical studies involving light waves in the 405nm and 470nm spectrum that kill MRSA.

So that plus a bit more research landed me in a grow shop earlier this evening where I found myself explaining to a couple of college-aged kids that I was looking for some very specific lighting. I do wonder if they thought I was fabricating the story... I'd guess they get some interesting requests.

I'll be working on getting that set up this weekend.

I suppose if it turns out to be a disaster for the hedgies, we can always use it on Hedgiedaddy's Chia Herb Garden that he recently received as a belated birthday present. We're bound to have the best herbs that way!

 

[Kalandra]

I did a little reading on this topic after reading your post. The study I ran across was very interesting, and looked rather promising. Definitely sounds like something to try. At this point I can see you rigging up a light system for the entryway to your house. Everyone must stand in the light for 15 minutes before going near the hedgehogs.

 

[thistlesmom]

Yuck. Good luck! Both Thistle and I have had mrsa and so I know a lot about it, and my human doctor told me that it was possible that my antibiotics may never get rid of it, that my symptoms could go away but that they could come back.
Thistle's last culture was clean for mrsa but I haven't been tested since the last round of antibiotics got rid of the symptoms so who knows if it's gone forever or not.
I hope that they are feeling better soon!

 

[smhufflepuff]

I'm mentally gearing up for the DEA bust - ceramic heat emitters and a industrial-strength blue grow light in one room. Should be good when they find two huffy hedgehogs instead of the crop they were expecting.

Miss Satin managed to dump her entire water dish (reptile waterer) last night and then righted it. I found it in the morning standing there completely empty - should have had about 10 ounces of water in the reservoir. I found her behind her wheel curled up very tightly in her blanket. Hedgiedaddy was very brave and held her directly in his hands to make sure she was warm and dry... then he washed... and covered himself with antibacterial lotion. Not being able to tell if they're warm and dry is one of the major problems I have with the gloves - just can't feel everything that I need to.

Satin's gone a little weird in the nebulizing chamber. I think she likes it... sort of? She's very good at communicating her wants/needs to me in terms of "I want out of the sink," "I want my kibbles," "I want to be picked up," "I want to snuggle," and "I want to go back to my house." Now, I'm seeing, "I want to go in the box with the air-thing." She aims for it and struggles to get herself out of my arms and into the box. Guess that's a good thing - would rather have her do that than have her in the box screaming to get out. Now, the weird thing: these last 4 nights when I start up the nebulizer, she's begun attacking the spot where the mist comes from. Gets her nose all up in there and rams it a few times. After ramming, she settles down and waits patiently. I'm not quite sure what this means - other than I'm going to reinforce that area so she doesn't knock anything out of place.

Meanwhile, Tex is going through phases of accepting his meds and being very wily. In addition to the Amikacin, he's on Baytril for another bug. It's lucky for him that I think he's adorable.

 

[Nancy]

We'ell take up a collection if we have to bail you out of jail. Who knows, they might think the hedgehogs are just a cover up.

Often if I want to check on someones temperature but not disturb them, I will feel underneath the cage. If the area is warm under where they are sleeping, I know they are warm. If I don't feel any warmth, then I have to get him or her up. Usually a toasty warm hedgehog will be obviously warm underneath where they are laying.

Silly Satin. Maybe the stuff makes her feel good.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Good tip on checking cage bottoms. Wouldn't have worked quite right on her dumping adventure as she'd managed to tightly wrap herself in her blanket and place herself on top of the rear/support tube of her wheel. Below her was the moat of water. Gotta give her credit for getting herself up and out of the water ...mostly.

She's looking great. My four year old. Love her and her little poopy feet.

Tex was a huff monster this morning. Didn't wheel last night (or did so in a very clean manner) and wouldn't let me check him out very much this morning. Am hoping he'll unball more this evening. I figure I'll run some water and he'll relax - he usually unballs to the sound of running water - had to use that trick once at the vet's office.

 

[smhufflepuff]

We go to the vet for a culture today. It's been 6w since re-starting treatment and, in terms of runny noses, they're looking pretty darn good! Another component of the vet appt will be to check on Satin's tumor

Send good vibes!

 

[Kalandra]

Sending as many good vibes as we can to you.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Quillkids have been cultured. Tex was a challenge - but, we believe successfully swabbed. Such a little nose that is ever so busy sniffing and wiggling. Satin was a breeze in comparison - bigger nose and more chill.

We're keeping them on meds until we hear back - likely next week. And then we'll make plans.

Hedgiedaddy really wants to stop with the gloves. I do too.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Initial report is that nothing is growing on either hedgies' culture, but we're waiting until Friday for a final report and will plan from there.

Nice to have some good news

 

[Kalandra]

Yeh! Happy news!

 

[Nancy]

YAY! That is wonderful news.