What is Staphylococcus Infection?
Staphylococcus, or staph, infections range from mild to life-threatening. Certain life events, chronic diseases and lifestyle choices can increase your likelihood of getting a staph infection, but everyday precautions can lessen the chance of getting one.
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Staphylococcus: A Common Bacteria
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More than 30 different staphylococcus bacteria can cause infections in people, and the illnesses caused by staph infections range from minor to deadly.
According to MedicineNet.com, Staphylococcus aureus infections are the most common. Staphylococcus bacteria are normally found on the skin and in the nose. It's possible for anyone to contract a staph infection, though people with conditions that weaken their immune system, such as diabetes, are at greater risk. Also at greater risk are people with vascular disease, cancer or lung disease, those who use intravenous drugs, and people with a skin disorder or skin injury. A surgical incision, being a wound to the skin, is a potential site for a staph infection.
MRSA
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, once found only among hospital patients, are more difficult to treat because the bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics. Because of MRSA's resistance to some antibiotics, it is often called a "superbug," but there are antibiotics that will conquer it.
The majority of MRSA infections occur among people who have recently undergone an invasive medical treatment such as surgery, but MRSA infections are also showing up that were acquired outside of hospitals. MRSA outbreaks have been reported in gyms, schools and day-care facilities.
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Illnesses Caused by Staph Infections
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A staph infection on the skin often causes a red, pus-filled area, such as a boil or abscess. It can lead to development of impetigo (causing crusting of the skin), cellulitis (infection of the connective tissue beneath the skin), mastitis (breast inflammation), or scalded skin syndrome--when a protein released by the bacteria causes the layers of the skin to loosen from each other, allowing blisters and sloughing of the skin to occur.
If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, sepsis can occur, causing high or low body temperature, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing rate and abnormal white blood cell count. If any two of those symptoms exist, the patient is diagnosed with sepsis. Sepsis is potentially life-threatening because it can lead to shock and collapse of the circulatory system. Staph infections can also attack the lungs, causing an abscess to form within the lung; attack the valves of the heart, possibly leading to heart failure; or attack the bones, leading to severe inflammation.
Staphylococcus aureus growing in conditions of little or no oxygen secrete a toxin that causes toxic shock syndrome, first described in women using highly-absorbent tampons.
Eating foods contaminated with toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus brings on a food poisoning that lasts one to three days but ordinarily resolves on its own.
Treatment Options
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Depending on the location and severity of the infection, staph infections can be treated with application of an antibiotic ointment, oral antibiotics, intravenous antibiotics, surgical draining of an abscess or a combination of these treatments. Laboratory testing may be done to determine which antibiotics are most effective for the particular bacteria causing the infection.
Preventative Steps You Can Take
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Since staphylococcus bacteria are so common and cause such a variety of illnesses, certain precautions are a wise idea in warding off infection.
Pay attention to burns, scrapes and cuts, and treat them with topical antibiotics.
Good hygiene practices are effective in preventing many kinds of illnesses, including staph infections. Practice thorough hand-washing and shower soon after participating in any contact sport.
Wipe down lockers, benches and other locker room contact surfaces before using them.
Avoid skin-to-skin contact or sharing personal items such as towels with someone who might have a staph infection.
Careful food handling and preparation helps avoid staphylococcus food poisoning.
Tampons should be changed regularly or alternated with pads in order to avoid toxic shock.
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