Brown Recluse Bite

[roxynoodle]

The BRs seem to be particularly bad this year. A friend's farmhouse was covered with them during July. One outside wall was just spider after spider after spider. Since they are all over Ohio, it is hard to believe they wouldn't be in Michigan. Even if I am not 100% sure a spider is a recluse, I kill it if it might be... and not with my hand or even a tissue. Shoes work great for smacking them. There is some kind of a fruit or nut that is green and warty looking, about the size of a baseball (I don't know the name of it) that supposedly will ward off spiders if you put them in your house and crawlspaces, etc. I really can't bomb my house because of my birds. No one wants them even for a day because they talk pretty much constantly, and most other people think they are annoying. In the South, there are all kinds of insects that cause problematic stings and the doctors there seem to be more up to date on treating them. Of course, it always helps if you can take the bug or spider with you to the doctor or hospital. Unfortunately we don't always see what bit us. I hope your recovery goes well.

 

[IslandTractor]

So what antibiotic is typically prescribed for streptococcus?

Keflex, or one of the other cephalosporins, or clindamycin or any of the penicillins (Dicloxacillin for an outpatient skin infection for example). There are lots of antibiotics with good streptococcal coverage, Bactrim just isn't one of them. Bactrim would do a fair job against Staphylococcus but so do all the others listed. Bottom line is that Bactrim is an odd choice for a skin infection unless the patient is allergic to penicillin and you are pretty confident you are not dealing with strep.

 

[MDM]

Since I was not 100% certian that I was bitten by something, they were also concerned that a MRSA infection was possible, however unlikely. I think that is why they gave me the Bactrim.

 

[Bird]

There is some kind of a fruit or nut that is green and warty looking, about the size of a baseball (I don't know the name of it) that supposedly will ward off spiders if you put them in your house and crawlspaces, etc.

Roxy, I think you are talking about what we, in the south, call Bois d'arc while, in other parts of the country, they are known as Osage Orange. And when I was a kid in Oklahoma, we knew them as Horse Apples. The odd thing is that my first horse would eat them like candy, but I later had two other horses which wouldn't touch them.

 

[anojones]

Since I was not 100% certian that I was bitten by something, they were also concerned that a MRSA infection was possible, however unlikely. I think that is why they gave me the Bactrim.

You are correct- there is a big increase recently in CA-MRSA (community acquired methicillin resistant staph aureus) infections. These are usually skin infections and often appear similar to a spider envenomation, but are actually an abscess/cellulitis. MRSA is resistant to most of the typical antibiotics used for cellulitis (several mentioned in a post above) but is usually responsive to Bactrim and a few other antibiotics.

 

[MDM]

I read up on MRSA and it seems unlikely that that would be the case as I work from home and hadn't left my property in the 2 weeks prior to the wound. I was in the woods and felt the hot sensation on my cheek. That made me think something bit be will in the woods. From what IslandTrator is saying, Bactrim is of no benifit for an insect bite type of infection, so I must be healing on my own. I'm almost tempted to start back on the Keflex, but I'm going to give it a couple more days and ask my doctor. I got the feeling from the ER doc that he really didn't know what it was. It is getting better, but very slowly. It seems to get better over night and stays the same during the day. I wouldn't be concerned with it as much if it wasn't on my face.

 

[roxynoodle]

Roxy, I think you are talking about what we, in the south, call Bois d'arc while, in other parts of the country, they are known as Osage Orange. And when I was a kid in Oklahoma, we knew them as Horse Apples. The odd thing is that my first horse would eat them like candy, but I later had two other horses which wouldn't touch them.

From the picture I don't think that's it. It almost looks like a small brain, the thing I'm thinking of. Wish I could remember what it's called! Maybe I will see them soon, I think they come out in the fall.

 

[IslandTractor]

CA-MRSA is a reasonable consideration but clindamycin would still be the choice unless you know the organism is some staphyococcus. Reason is simply that skin infections come in different flavors (staph, strep, CAMRSA etc) and Bactrim misses one of the biggies (strep), clindamycin gets all three. Some physicians are reluctant to use clindamycin due to a relatively rare side effect but Bactrim has other difficult side effects so it is about equal. No free lunch in the world of antibiotics anymore . Still, I would not worry as it seems you are doing well. If you got worse I'm sure the ER doc would do a culture and change antibiotics.

Spider bites and infection are quite often confused in both directions.

Working from home is not a fool proof defense against CA MRSA. Many individuals are asymptomatically colonized and can spread it to others who remain healthy until there is a break in the skin or something like that that then gets contaminated with the CA MRSA from our own nose or arm pit or groin. Staph is always around and unfortunately now an increasing percentage is resistant to the more commonly used (and safer) drugs.

 

[txdon]

I was thinking of this thread today when I saw A Brown Recluse on my workbench. They run fast for about 5" and stop and then repeat. I was able to capture him in a jar and got a few good pictures. Enjoy!

 

[EddieWalker]

Don,

I almost didn't open your pictures knowing how you are. hahahaha

Any chance you can keep that little guy in the jar until we get there? I'd love to see it in person!!! If not, I'm sure you'll catch a few that day for us.

Eddie