Brief Answer:
First 24-72 hrs is the most important phase..-

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Welcome to HCM,
I've gone through your query in details and understand your concern,

From your description it's quite apparent that there's an acute bout of skin and soft tissue infection has set in, so i'm glad to know that appropriate antibiotic therapy with I.V. Clindamycin has been initiated without any further delay..

No, it's not necessary to have fever, specially given the background of Breast Cancer.. However some of the vital parameters do exhibit incremental trend..but since appropriate therapy has initiated, and your body started responding against the organism(most important factor), so it's actually a good sign that the vital parameters are within normal range..

Initial cultures generally come out inconclusive only, it's up to 72 hrs it takes to finally comment on the susceptible organism and their sensitivity pattern..

No, it's not really appearing viral/fungal, all these are typically observed in anerobic(Gm+ve and/ Gm -ve) & some of aerobic bacterial infection only..

Please keep yourself well hydrated(extremely important at this point), watch out for any new onset symptoms like loose motion/ sudden spike of fever/ chills/ drowsiness/ restlessness etc. and if at all observed, then you must report it to your doctor and immediately get hospitalized..

Maintain good hygiene, take regular bath, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial hand wash each time prior and after using wash-room..try to have only home-cooked high protein diet..

Yes your MD is right, if it doesn't show significant improvement after first three days then an additional regimen like CEFAZOLIN or CEFOPERAZONE/SULBACTUM or CO-AMOXYCLAV etc. has to be initiated, which can be later on switched to even more appropriate regimen based on the aerobic & anaerobic culture sensitivity reports..however in the given context of MRSA, there may be a need to start on even higher generation antibiotics(eg. Vancomycin and carbapenems after the culture reports and may be another need for repeating the cultures after the present course of antibiotics get over)

Please plan and schedule for the visit to the Infectious Disease Specialist in the meanwhile for an additional opinion as well as few further work-ups (a complete hemogram, Liver and Renal function test)..

Don't worry, if the swelling's not increasing and there's no pus pocket formation then, it'll reduce within a week to ten days..no need to manipulate the area..avoid direct sunlight exposure..

It seems your in good hands only, have faith in your doctor and strictly follow the advises, it'll be just a matter of time till you'll get better..

Let me how you stay in the due course..

Take Care
Kind Regards

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Brief Answer:
follow-up consultation..

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Welcome back,
Thanks for following up with these vital details,

Now there's no harm in getting a short course of Prednisone, but I'd like to know if the antibiotics provided any relief or not in the first place..

Also can you please upload/attach a few snapshots of the rashes over hand and face so that I can take a closer look at it ? you can simply upload it in the reports section..

However, it's the benefits which outweigh the risk in this scenario..So, even in slightest doubt, given those infectious episodes in the past, it's always wise to start the relevant antibiotics therapy without any further delay..

I'd appreciate your friend's observation, however another point to be noted that, poison Ivy induced rashes are generally developed over a period of 24-72 hrs post exposure, which are characteristically quite itchy, can even be associated with shortness of breath, swelling of tongue etc.(which since you haven't mentioned yet, I presume you don't have)..However the first appearance of the rash over the right hand with which you opened the trash can certainly indicate towards a skin contact with those poison Ivy..

So once again, as I've already mentioned in the very beginning of my previous reply,"First 24-72 hrs is the most important phase", and it's recommended to start with appropriate antibiotic therapy, in the context of the clinical background of yours, however better late than never, so let the Prednisone go on simultaneously, and regardless of the fact whether it's a cumulative effect of the both, you'll be benefited in the end..


Please get rid of those Poison Ivy plants without any further delay..

Let me know how you stay in the due course..

Take Care
Kind Regards

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