Facing MRSA Infection After a Biopsy? Understand the Risks and Get Help!

Published on, 30 May, 2025. Answered by Dr. Nopporn Apiwattanakul and Verified by Dr.Galen Team
Patient Question

Hello Doctor,

 

I recently had a tibia biopsy done, and the cultures from the biopsy showed a bacteria I hadn't had any symptoms for before this issue started. After the biopsy, I went into septic shock. Over the course of about 2.5 months before the biopsy, cultures showed MRSA. Could you help me understand how this happened and what might have caused this sudden infection? I'm concerned about the timeline and the bacteria's unexpected presence.

 

Hello

Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.

 

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can enter the bloodstream through even small, unnoticed injuries or breaks in the skin, such as minor trauma or wounds. Once it enters the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to other areas of the body, including bones, which could explain how it reached your tibia. In some cases, the infection may remain undetected for a period before causing more severe symptoms, like septic shock, especially if the bacteria are resistant to common antibiotics.

 

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the initial entry of MRSA into your system, it’s possible that the bacteria were present in your body for a while, but the infection only became clinically apparent after the biopsy. The biopsy itself could have provided an opportunity for the bacteria to become more active or enter the bloodstream in a way that contributed to your septic shock.

 

Thanks

 


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About Dr. Nopporn Apiwattanakul

Dr. Nopporn Apiwattanakul

Infectious Disease Specialist

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