You've probably heard some horror stories about MRSA infections lately. It's a superbug that is difficult to treat because it is resistant to most of our antibiotics. This, to me, makes it of particular concern in an SHTF world.

The CDC explains:

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. In the general community, MRSA most often causes skin infections.  In some cases, it causes pneumonia (lung infection) and other issues.  If left untreated, MRSA infections can become severe and cause sepsis – a life-threatening reaction to severe infection in the body.  (source)

Back in 2012, The Atlantic reported that MRSA infections had doubled in the previous 5 years. In 2017 there was yet another uptick.

MRSA is bad news and not the easiest thing to treat. First, the wound has to be surgically drained. Then it has to be dressed, then the person has to be on specific. antibiotics for 10 days. Ask me how I know. Really.

A cautionary tale about MRSA

Are you ready for a gross story with

1. a moral for the stubborn among us and

2. a lesson for those preparing a doomsday medical kit?

Here you go. Don't say I didn't warn you.

A few weeks ago, I had a business trip to Baltimore. That's about a 5-hour drive from where I live. I was feeling a bit draggy/lazy so I invited my eldest daughter to come with me so I didn't have to drive, then go to a meeting, be charming, and attempt to appear smarter than I am.

When we got to our hotel, I noticed what I thought was a mosquito bite on my inner thigh. I idly wondered how it got there since it isn't shorts weather yet, but I didn't give it much thought. I had makeup to apply and a meeting to rock. I walked to the nearby restaurant to have dinner with some folks who work with big-name marketing companies. By the time I got home, the "bite" was bigger but not worrisome.

But the next morning, it was totally different – huge, hot to touch, and a dark, scary shade of purple. Thanks to Google, I decided that it was a boil. No big deal. We grabbed some breakfast and headed home.

I started to feel terrible in the car. I was running a fever and felt nauseated. But me being the stubborn individual that I am, I decided that the fever and nausea were probably unrelated to the throbbing wound on my leg. My daughter wanted to take me to an urgent care clinic right away, but I felt I could treat it at home successfully. Because, as I mentioned, I'm stubborn that way.