Staph Infection

Isn't staph infection contagious to other animals and humans? Does it appear as black patches?

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30253

Yes staph infection is contagious. It is also sometimes fatal to gliders (as evidenced by some of the necropsy reports we have).

Infection does not show up as black patches. No. However, if the glider/dog/cat/whatever licks themselves until they have a little bit of a seeping wound (only damages the first layer of skin), then it could cause a scab that looks kinda flaky and grayish black.

Also, I have not read the thread yet, but without a culture, the vet could not conclusively say it is staph vs. other bacteria. A culture is NECESSARY.

Hi,
I had one of my gliders get what the vet and I think was MRSA. He was over groomed by his family and needed to have stitches the next morning. My regular vet wasn't in, so, I had to see the vet on call. (Not happy about it) I picked him up and noticed his fur was stitched in to the wound. Also, there was a very sick dog in the back. (MRSA)

My poor little boy had to have surgery 3X's. The blackness is dead tissue that needs to be removed. He also, spent almost 3 month's isolated from the others.

He's totally well now, but with all MRSA patients you have to watch them. Once you get it there's always a chance you could have another out break.

(Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) MRSA is also know as the flesh eating bug.

Quote :

(Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) MRSA is also know as the flesh eating bug.

No it is not.

MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria which has become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat staph infection.

The "flesh eating" bacteria is a rare form of bacteria called Necrotizing fasciitis - and it does not just eat away at the skin, it eats at the fat and tissue that covers muscle also.

One can lead to the other, but they are NOT the same thing - NOT "also known as."

Your glider had an infection which caused necrosis of the skin tissue. This is very common, ESP. when wounds are closed up. This is why we strongly encourage leaving wounds OPEN to heal (through secondary intention) rather than stitching or gluing them shut in sugar gliders.

It is always best to not "think" you have MRSA, but instead to do the testing required to diagnose what bacteria you are dealing with.

Necrotizing fasciitis, can result from MRSA.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1102608/mursa_mrsa_and_flesheating_bacteria.html

I've had MRSA. It ate muscle and tissue causing me to be hospitalized w/in 24hrs. I've also, had several other hospital stays due to same bug. If you would like I could send you pictures.