Red rash that could be staph or strep

[margosmom]

Around four months ago, I developed a rash in my groin area.  It did not itch or hurt, but after two days it became warm (with fever, I suppose) and itched a little bit.  It was very angry looking, bright red and a little bubbled.  I suspected staph or strep since I had seen that type rash on my youngest child's bottom when he was still in diapers, and it had the blister-looking bubbles.  I went to my nurse practioner and she prescribed bactroban and also swabbed it.  The bactroban was effective and the rash cleared by at least 50% within two to three days.  Then my nurse practioner called and said the culture showed e. coli.  She then prescribed cipro.  She said that e. coli is normally present in urine and maybe it got in through a nick in my skin or something.  NOW, I have the same rash (I believe) on the back of my leg!  I know I didn't urinate on the back of my leg.  First of all, is it true that e. coli is present in urine or only when there is a UTI?  If e. coli is found present in this rash, why am I having e. coli rashes?  Could I have gotten it from a public commode seat?  I plan to go see my doctor (nurse practioner moved away) tomorrow, but he is generally not overly informative about things.  I guess it could be staph or strep WITHOUT e. coli, but I'm just concerned about why I am having these rashes.  Thank you.  

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I doubt that the e coli was causative.  This bug lives in the bowel and can contaminate the skin in the vicinity, rashy or not.  I suspect that you have eczema, which can do just what you describe.  For now I would just leave the rash alone except for moisturizing.  The e coli is likely to turn out to be a red herring.  If your doctor is unsure, perhaps a dermatologist can she some light.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[margosmom]

I saw a dermatologist here in my small town and she said she's never seen anything like this!  It is now about the size of two silver dollars, bright red with some bubbly places and it has a whitish ring around it.  She is treating it as a brown recluse spider bite.  She prescribed an antibiotic, something in the Erythromycin family, I can't remember the name of it.  I haven't picked it up from the pharmacy yet.

I talked to one other person who had been to this doctor who said that the doctor was no help to them, so it's possible this is not a great doctor.  

I just wanted to give you the latest information I had.  Looking forward to your opinion.