Can DS get Staph from nursing?

[Rin]

My 4 mo dear son and I have a great nursing relationship despite what I thought was thrush. My Right breast has been painful since DS was two weeks old, I saw a LC who said yes it was thrush.I saw a DR for diflucan. Dr only gave me one weeks worth, I went back six weeks later with the same pain, only worse. She did a culture, and the results came back as staph. Now I'm concerened that My DS will get the infection from nursing on the infected side. Do I need to stop feeding him on that side? I don't know what to do. :(

[Amy_G_]

I don't know. honestly I would think 1. he's already been exposed, but 2. yes it can be spread fairly easily.
hmmmmm..... staph on the nipple? in the ducts? in the breastmilk?

[madelsmama]

It's possible that it was thrush or latch initally, but after repeated trauma to the nipple, the staph was introduced into the wound. Staph lives on the surface of our skin, harmlessly, until the integument of the skin is compromised.

Do you have an open wound on that nipple?

Are you on antibiotics?

Do you know if it's methicillin-resistant staph-a (MRSA)?

[KerryS]

No, you do not need to stop feeding him on that side.

[Rin]

So I guess I should have offered a bit more info. Sorry. i started antibiotics today (with probiotics to keep myself from developing thrush again...)My thought swere that it was thrush that turned into staph as well, if that's the case I should stillbe treating the thrush right? My clinic is a very busy one so I woke up to a message from the 'nurse of the day' on my machine telling me to come pick up the antibiotics, I haven't been able to talk to my dr. directly so I'm not sure if the staph is on the skin or in the ducts. the culture was done with both a rubbing of my nipple, and some expressed milk. It worries me. If he was already exposed, does he need to be treated? The instructions withthe antibiotics say that it is excreted in the breastmilk so perhaps that should be enough of a treatment? There are no open woulnds that I can see, perhaps I have some microcracks?

[madelsmama]

http://jhl.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/411

Sounds like MRSA can be transmitted between a MRSA positive mom to baby even without an open wound. The bacteria can be transmitted through contact, so generally transmission is a risk.

Like Amy said, it's likely he's already been exposed to it. But I may be inclined to pump that breast every time he eats until the wound is closed and probably resume nursing. And I would probably seek the opinion of his pediatrician as well.

ETA: Sorry, I cross-posted with you and with Kerry.

Kerry, can you explain more?

[KerryS]

Most cases of infectious mastitis are caused by staph. It is not a reason to stop nursing on that side.

[madelsmama]

Most cases of infectious mastitis are caused by staph. It is not a reason to stop nursing on that side.

Okay. :)

[Amy_G_]

and yes, baby would get antibiotics just a bit in the milk, but that's ok for most types of antibiotics. I'm not even sure if staph stays alive thru the digestive system, if her were to injest some.
I never thought of mastitis being cause by staph, but if so, definitely nurse thru it.

[Rin]

My doctor didn't say anything about mastitis. How interesting. I don't consider my symptoms to be similar to mastitis, more like thrush. Thanks for your help. :)

[Rin]

Do you know if it's methicillin-resistant staph-a (MRSA)?

I really hope it isn't MRSA!!!!!! I still haven't spoken with my doctor, but I am taking sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Isn't that considered a methicillin?

[madelsmama]

Bactrium is a sulfa drug.

Bactrim is usually effective at treating MRSA, so hopefully you're not dealing with that, but if so, you're covered.

I don't think Amy and Kerry were meaning to say that you might have mastitis, just since most cases of mastitis are caused by staph and are compatible with continuing nursing, a nipple culture that's positive for staph shouldn't stop you, either.

[Amy_G_]

yeah what I meant was
when you have mastitis, you are told to nurse thru it, and kerry says mastitis is usually strep;
so whatever you have now, you should be able to nurse thru it if it's strep too.