[pct-l] Drug- resistent skin infections

[ed faubert]

I forwarded the messages posted today about these infections to my friend Angelia Ballard.... Her husband Duffy is a physucan with Kaiser in northern California..Both Angela and Duffy hiked the PCt in 2000. This is his response to me today.....
   
  MRSA (methicillin-resitant stap aureus) skin infections are becoming more and more common in all settings and antibiotics( such as keflex-cephalexin) that were previously used for skin infections are not as effective as they once were. I (Duffy) would suggest that hikers carry both keflex(500mg 4x's a day for 5/7 days and Bactrim DS( one twice a day for 7 days) in their medical kits.Of course, it is probably not a good idea to use these medications without at least first consulting with a physican, Skin infections(cellulitis) can become very serious, and if an area of redness/warmth is not inproving the best advice is to get off trail and see a doctor. Hikers are susceptible to these because of the frequent skin breaks, blisters, scratches etc. and thorough cleaning of wounds(even innocuous appearing) ones is the best defense against a big problem.
   
  Thank you for getting back with me so fast Duffy with this information....
  Meadow Ed

 		
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