Any alternatives for staph infection besides Bactrim or Septra (or any family of sulfamethoxazole)? (Photo)

Question

I am so distressed and need expert advise here. I just had my debridement and revision after Tummy tuck 2 weeks ago and the culture came back showing staph infection. My dr surgically cleaned it all out and then put me on Bactrim. I took the Bactrim DS 8 days and had itching and started getting bad shortness of breath, cough, chest pain so I stopped 2 days short. Now my incision is a little inflamed and my PS wants me to take Bactrim again for 7 days just in case of an infection...

Stephen Bresnick, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding antibiotic choice following tummy tuck.  I  understand that your doctor is treating an infection along your incision line.  You have had some problems with Bactrim and a possible allergy to that medication.Antibiotic choice is really based on cultures.  If you have an MRSA infection (a resistant staph infection), there are other choices besides Bactrim which can help.  Doxycycliine and Rifampin are active against MRSA.  Sometimes Clindamycin can also help.  I would discuss your concerns with your doctor, and if you are truely allergic to Bactrim, ask to be placed on another antibiotic which is specific for the culture results.Best wishes.

Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Thanks for sharing your question. I can
appreciate your concern.

there are many medications, however the cultures that they took from the debridement should have accurate description of the best antibiotics to use. knowing if this was MSSA vs MRSA infection will make a difference.

Finally, make sure that your doctor is
aware of your process. He should be able to guide you best in your care.

Wishing you the best in your journey

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

There are several antibiotics that are effective against staph including penicilins, cephalosprins, quinolones, mycins. what you need to do is go by your culture results which will identify antbiotics that would be able to fight of the exact bacteria that you are trying to fight.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Thank you for the question and sorry for your complication.  That said if cultures were taken they should also show what type of staph you have and what antibiotics it is sensitive too.  So ask your surgeon and have him switch you to something you are not allergic to but what the bacteria is also sensitive to.Dr. Corbin

Any alternatives for staph infection besides Bactrim or Septra (or any family of sulfamethoxazole)? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Infection

Answer: Infection

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Any alternatives for staph infection besides Bactrim or Septra (or any family of sulfamethoxazole)? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Infection

Answer: Infection

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.