How is Staph Infection Spread?
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Infection Following Surgery
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The staph most commonly develops between two and seven days after a surgery. The site of the surgery will become red, painful, swollen and may produce a burning sensation. The best way to prevent a staph infection is to keep a wound clean and fully covered. Bandages should be clean and the patient should avoid contact with foreign objects, such as dirty gauze or the guardrail in a bathroom.
Contact with Infected Objects
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Like the common cold, a staph infection can spread if an individual comes into contact with objects that have been infected. This happens most commonly in places that house multiple people, such as hotels, dormitories and even apartment buildings. Staph is commonly spread through bed linens, towels, clothing, razors, toothbrushes and any other common objects where the infection can settle in. The infection spreads even more easily if these objects contain sweat or other bodily fluids. The moistness of these fluids, combined with a warm, humid environment, produces an optimal breeding ground for bacteria and infections.
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Certain Treatment Options
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Individuals who are on dialysis or who use a feeding tube or catheter are at greater risks for staph infections because they have foreign objects that are constantly inserted and removed from the body. These invasive objects can become infected before, during or after they're removed or inserted. People who have to utilize such devices should take extra care to keep the insertion site clean and device clean. Individuals who utilize certain chemotherapy drugs, such as ofloxacin, levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin, or certain cephalosporin antibiotics may have weakened immune systems that allow them to contract a staph infection more easily than a healthy person who does not utilize these treatment options.
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