KNEE ARTHRITIS - Total Knee Replacement :

MRSA Infection in knee - - Posted by Lori-Florida (Lori-Florida), 17 July 2004

I have had a knee infection from a TKR surgery way back in Jan 2003 and it was removed in May 2003. Had IV antibiotics for 4 weeks then that was it just sit in the wheelchair with leg emmobolized until this past April 2004 and which time another surgeon at another facility did the revision  but with in hours of the cuture being taken to the lab it came back hot for MRSA infection . For those that dont know anything about this bacteria it is antibiotic resistant there is only one maybe two antibiotics that can help it but there not working like they use to on this bacteria . I have been on Vancomycin now for 14 weeks IV wise. I am so tired of this and in extreme pain 7/24. All I want to do is walk again but now the leg is shorter than the good one and were basically just praying to save it from amputation. This is all because the first surgeons werent agressive enough in there treatments. Of course that is my opinion.
Posted by Kelli_Bear (Kelli_Bear), 17 July 2004

I am so sorry you are battling this.  It's enough to have to go throught the surgery without this added to it.  

I just had my 4th knee scope yesterday and now my whole knee I just discovered is completely numb.  

I pray your knee infection clears up soon without a lot more intervention.

Hang in there.  And keep bugging your medical staff for help.

Kelli
Posted by Helena (Helena KTF), 17 July 2004

Hey!!

Kep your chin up, I know it isn't easy!!!

I know someone who has been MRSA+ ever since he had a THR after an MVA back in 1994. 1 months ago he had to come back to hospital to have the injection flushed out (they made an incision, put a high dose antibiotics in the wound and put 2 drains in, 1 to flush fluid in and a redon drain to let the pus flow out again. We swapped the wound (culture) and it was MRSA+. While he was in hospital he had an acute cholecystitis and therefor had a cholocystectomy. Surgeon discovered the antibiotics weren't working well for his cholecystectomy, he devellpoed high fever, so they changed his antibiotics. It took 5 days for the AB (Zivoxid) to arrive (it was send over from Germany, we had never used it). When he went home after 12 days, he felt fine, and the last culture of his femur wound was.... MRSA- !!!!! Amazing but true! After 10 years it was negative! But however he is always prone to get it again.

I really hope everything turns out OK, esp since you have a TKR, but this shows there's hope for you!

Have to go, big thunderstorm approaching

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