Hi Todd, I was wondering if you could tell me if there are any other infections that could infect a peptic ulcer besides H. Pylori?  I have a family member in ICU with low hemaglobin that necessitated over 7 units of blood in the last 2 days.  She does have 2 large/deep intestinal ulcers, an a endoscopy was done but don't have the results yet.

They are now telling her she has a staph infection, and she recently (in last month) had a total knee replacement.  Her incision is well healed and as far as I know has no cuts or openings of the skin that could point to staph.

My question is:  Can a bleeding ulcer be infected with staph?  She was dx with staph today along with the bleeding ulcer and is waiting for the biopsy results.

2nd Question:  If it's possible to have staph in an ulcer how does that happen?  I've been reading as much as I can and can't find anything on staph infected ulcers.  I feel the location of the staph is from some other location, but there doesn't appear to be any skin openings/cuts and her recent knee surgery incision healed fine.  She did have black tarry stools shortly after the knee surgery, so I don't know if this info is pertinent or not, and also needed transfusions for 2 weeks post-op total knee.

If anyone here knows the answer to this please join in, this question isn't limited to Todd.  Thanks in advance for any help, we are stumped at the moment and her condition continues to dertiorate with the low hemaglobin and subsequent transfusions.  If you need more info just let me know, in case I may have left something out of importance.  You can also contact me through the on-site email system at the Osteoporosis Site.

Thanks in advance for any help including any members who may know something about this possibility.

Pam Flores (osteoporosis community leader/moderator).