Tom Boonen reveals he nearly lost his arm to septic infection

Does anyone else want to wish Tom a speedy recovery so we can be entertained come the cobbled classics?

Get well soon Tommeke.

The description of a bacteria which is normal skin flora does fit with a Staphylococcus Aureus which is commonly found on the skin or within the respiratory tract.

MRSA is a form of Staphylococcus Aureus which is resistant to many antibiotics. It's not necessarily any more pathogenic but it is more difficult to treat.

From whats written in the article it sounds like the infection (whatever it was) developed prior to the hospital visit so whatever it was it seem difficult to blame "dirty belgian hospitals".

While it's fair to say that osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) is a serious condition immediate amputation without a trial of IV antibiotics would not be a normal course of treatment. These days for a young healthy patient (let alone an international athlete with private medical cover) removal or the infected bone and later bone grafting would also be likely to be attempted prior to formal amputation.
The operation performed here is likely to have been a washout of an abscess (collection of pus) which is very common and relatively risk free.

This article is fairly typical of those covering any "serious" medical condition or miracle recovery. It's basically chinese whispers.
The doctors explanation to the patient will be an over simplification, and they may be overly dramatic "we have saved your arm!!!"
The patient may misunderstand (they are ill at the time) and will naturally remember the big worst case scenario statements more than the other information.
They then tell a friend/the press, they may exaggerate the story themselves and if they don't the press certainly will.

Sorry for the essay, medical reporting is a bit of a pet hate of mine. I find it generally misinforms and scaremongers which makes it more difficult to reassure people or gain their trust when they do require treatment.

It sounds like staphylococcus, which I think is present on skin, if I remember what I was told when it attacked me. I doubt it was MRSA - sounds like it was in the right place to breed without needing special resistance - but maybe it was.

So, what would they do in an operation to stop the infection? Cut out a big chunk of flesh? Just curious.

'Sounds like he got MRSA. Hospitals in Belgium a bit dirty?'

why do we bother with spending all this money on microbiology labs in order to identify pathogens? we should just ask someone on a cycling forum.
Good old armchair science. Can't beat it.

Actually, my experiences of hospitals in Belgium is that they are anything but dirty. Healthcare in Belgium is extremely good. I came off my bike last summer (over the handlebars after I hit some broken tarmac) and made a gravel-sized hole in my arm. I've never seen hospital staff move so quickly on something that in other countries you'd be left waiting with for hours - three stitches, spotlessly clean environment.

Sounds like he got MRSA. Hospitals in Belgium a bit dirty?

I would love to see if the infection was on the front or rear of the elbow. Sorry, sceptical old me.

Sounds remarkably similar to what happened to Johan Museeuw BITD: http://www.rapha.cc/a-throw-of-the-dice

There must be something in the water in Belgium.