MRSA infections

While working aboard the superyacht M/Y O, 25-year-old deckhand James faced an unexpected storm — not in the sea, but within his body. After a minor cut, that he got from handling ground lines, became a battleground for a severe MRSA infection.

MRSA, a formidable bacterium, often begins as a simple rash, swelling, or a painful area on the skin, resembling an ordinary spider bite or bump. However, as James discovered, when it does not heal, but instead becomes warm, abscessed, or is accompanied by fever, it’s a red flag that demands immediate medical attention.

James just thought it was a small infection, due to his immune system being a bit run down after a few back-to-back charters.  A couple days later James woke up feeling “sick as a dog”. He had fever, chills, and sharp chest pain & he was extremely confused.

On presentation to the hospital, they found that James had:

• fever and chills
• low blood pressure (hypotension)
• rapid heart rate
• rapid breathing
• little to no urine production, or anuria
• confusion

He was diagnosed with Bacteraemia secondary to MRSA.

Bacteraemia means there are bacteria in the bloodstream. It’s a very serious and life-threatening condition that can lead to sepsis and septic shock. This is the body’s overwhelming response to infection. If these situations occur and they aren’t or can’t be treated, you can die from MRSA.

The doctors believe that the cause of the infection, confirmed by blood tests, was probably the polluted water in the port & contaminated ground lines. James spent 3 weeks in isolation in ICU in Thailand, and was finally able to go back to work. James now uses gloves to handle ground lines and practices hand-washing regularly.

Note: Names & locations etctera have been changed to protect individuals’ identity.