The hospital is silent this morning, as the sun breaks through the blinds and casts off all the silver objects in the room. My hospital bed is uncomfortable, and it makes me yearn for my 100-year-old mattress and many unnecessary plush-pillows. The smell of bleach and cleanliness lingers in my nose and almost makes me feel sicker. How did I end up here? Well, that is not an adrenaline rushed injury or a freak accident, but something that started so small, with a bacterium named Staphylococcus aureus.
The Beginning
It was an ordinary day. A rush to get out the door for classes after a long night of studying, which usually meant, a two-minute shower to complete all grooming purposes. As I looked …show more content…
It was hot and painful, and it prevented me from being able to complete lacrosse practice. I returned home that evening in pain, only to discover I had an enormous, quarter size pimple under my arm. It was red, had raised from my skin and looked like it was forming ahead. I had no doubt to expect it to be anything other than a pimple or maybe even an ingrown hair (Management of pain). I proceeded to extract the head, which acted as a plug, as it exploded a green-yellow pus all over. My armpit looked like it got hit by a meteorite and all that remained was an irregular crater. I cleaned my under arm with a tissue and some water and proceeded with my evening.
My under arm had not bothered me, excepted some itching for a day or so, but I one night I woke up with a fever, feeling sick and my axillary area on fire. I looked in the mirror to discover a horrific sight. Extending from my armpit, half way down my side was a glowing red infection. There was localized swelling, which formed a golf ball sized pimple. I felt sicker. I took an Advil, put my shirt back on, went to bed and decided to make an appointment to see the doctor the next day. That following morning I got the biggest surprise, with the infection being crusted, oozing and even more inflamed. I needed a …show more content…
Washing your hands regularly with antibacterial soap that contain isopropyl alcohol, applying antimicrobial ointments to suspected areas. Avoid tight fitting clothes, friction and shower after an event that caused perspiration. Avoid shaving the suspected area and to never pick or open boils.
Taking antibiotics for 1-2 months can prevent reoccurring infections. The last page consisted of some facts, like that Staphylococcus aureus strain MRSA and others are an endemic in hospitals around the world, as they adapt to the antibiotics over time and gain resistance. According to the CDC, “it is estimated that the number of S. aureus–related hospitalizations increased 62%, from 294,570 to 477,927, and the estimated number of MRSA-related hospitalizations more than doubled, from 127,036 to 278,203 from the year 1999 to