MRSA post op

I think only your clinicians can give definitive advice.  However, many of us carry MRSA on our bodies with absolutely no issues - just like HPV we are so familiar with!  Occasionally the bug gets out of control and causes issues.  I would hazard a guess (and that is all it is) that if the swab is a month old then there is probably noting to be concerned about, the path lab would have reported the positive swab quickly to your clinical team.

You may get something like Hibiscrub or other anti-bacterial wash to control the bug on the skin just to be on the safe side.

Thank you.

What make no sense to me is that, as the point of the test was to look to see if something was causing infection and swelling, the positive MRSA result in the wound wasn’t flagged at the time.

Given the somewhat unusual and persistent swelling there is going to be a scan and biopsy next.

So still trying to get to the bottom of some worrying and unpleasant post op swelling.

Where exactly is the swelling, Cathy?

Starting on jawline but predominantly on neck. Very hard and tender, but not red or weepy.

I should imagine the MRSA is long gone but there could be a sinus or suture/ staple reaction ....anything that's actually been caused by the surgery. As Peter says. MRSA is a common skin contaminant.

I have a friend who had a neck dissection and the surgeon nicked her parotid gland which then wept for ages out of her neck.

It could be lymphodema....which can be very hard

I'm sure the doctors will get to the bottom of it

Thank you.

Yes, if there was an MRSA infection in the wound I would have expected it to be red and weepy.

Hopefully it is just lymphodema, which isn’t nice but can be managed. It hasn’t responded to careful massage so far.

Maybe the scan will provide an answer.