Topic: Post biopsy infection

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!

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..

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....