Staph Infections

Staph infections are caused by bacteria called staphylococcus. These bacteria are very common; many healthy people carry them on their skin or in their noses. Usually, these bacteria don't cause any problems, or they only cause small skin infections.

However, sometimes staph bacteria can spread deeper into the body, entering the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart. This can be dangerous and even life-threatening, and unfortunately, more and more healthy people are getting these serious infections.

Typically, staph infections are treated with antibiotics and cleaning the affected area. But a worrying trend is that some staph infections are becoming resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them. This means the usual antibiotics might not work. When this happens, doctors may need to use stronger antibiotics that can have more side effects.

Staph infections can cause problems ranging from simple skin issues to very serious illnesses. One serious example is endocarditis, an infection of the heart's inner lining. Staph bacteria can cause this. The symptoms of staph infections can be different depending on where the infection is in the body and how severe it is. For instance, a skin infection might just look like a sore, while a more serious infection in the heart could cause more noticeable and concerning symptoms, like a fever and chest pain.

See a doctor if you or your child has skin problems.

If you notice any of these signs, it's a good idea to see your doctor:

• Red, sore, or painful skin: This could be a sign of an infection. Look for areas that are noticeably different in color, feel hot to the touch, or are causing discomfort.
• Blisters filled with pus: Pus-filled blisters are a clear sign that something is wrong and needs medical attention.
• Fever: A fever is your body's way of fighting infection. If you or your child has a fever, it's important to get checked out.

It's also a good idea to call your doctor if:

• Skin infections are spreading through your family: If one person in your family gets a skin infection, and others start showing similar symptoms soon after, it's likely contagious. This means the infection can spread easily between people. Getting everyone checked out is important to stop the spread.
• Multiple family members have skin infections at the same time: If more than one person in your family has a skin infection around the same time, it suggests a potential problem that needs investigation. It could be an outbreak of a contagious skin infection, or there might be another reason for the infections. Seeing a doctor can help figure out what's going on and how to best treat everyone.

Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their noses, but they never get sick. This bacteria is quite common. If you do get a staph infection, it's likely you already had the bacteria present, possibly for a while.

Staph bacteria can spread from one person to another. Because these bacteria are very tough, they can live on things like pillowcases, towels, and even doorknobs for a period of time. This means that if someone with staph touches something, and then someone else touches the same thing, they could get infected. It's important to remember that direct contact isn't the only way staph spreads.

Staph bacteria can make you sick in two ways. First, they can cause an infection directly. Second, they can produce harmful substances called toxins that make you sick.

Staph bacteria are remarkably resilient and can withstand various conditions:

• Drying: They can survive even when dry.
• Temperature extremes: They can survive in both very hot and very cold temperatures.
• Stomach acid: Even the acidic environment of your stomach won't always kill them.

Several things can make you more likely to get a staph infection. Your immune system's strength and the kinds of sports you play are just two examples. A healthy immune system is important for fighting off infections, including staph. If your immune system isn't working well, you might be more vulnerable. Also, certain sports might put you in contact with more bacteria, increasing your chances of getting a staph infection.

Staph bacteria can cause serious illness if they spread throughout your body. Sometimes, staph bacteria enter your bloodstream, leading to a widespread infection called sepsis. Sepsis can be dangerous because it can cause your blood pressure to plummet to dangerously low levels, a condition called septic shock. This is a life-threatening situation.

Staph infections can also become very serious if the bacteria get into deeper parts of your body, like your joints, bones, lungs, or heart. This spread of infection can be life-threatening.

Simple Steps to Prevent Staph Infections

Staph infections are common. These simple steps can help you avoid them:

1. Wash Your Hands Often: Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs, including staph bacteria, from spreading. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Rub all parts of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails. Dry your hands thoroughly with a paper towel, and use that same towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren't visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can also work.

Wash your hands frequently: before and after preparing food, after touching raw meat or poultry, before eating, after using the bathroom, after handling animals or animal waste, and after touching anything that might be contaminated.

2. Cover Wounds: Keep cuts, scrapes, and sores clean and covered with a sterile bandage until they heal. This prevents bacteria, including staph, from getting in and causing an infection. Pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria.

3. Be Careful With Tampons: Staph bacteria can sometimes cause toxic shock syndrome. To lower your risk, change your tampon frequently – at least every 4 to 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can, and alternate between tampons and pads whenever possible.

4. Don't Share Personal Items: Avoid sharing towels, sheets, razors, clothing, and athletic equipment. Staph bacteria can spread from person to person, and also on shared items.

5. Clean Clothing and Bedding: Staph bacteria can live on clothes, towels, and bedding. Wash and dry these items using the warmest setting recommended by the care label. Even if you can't use hot water, using detergent is still effective in cleaning and making the items safe. You can use bleach on items safe for bleach.

6. Practice Safe Food Handling: Wash your hands before handling food. If food will be left out for a while, keep hot foods hot (above 140°F or 60°C) and cold foods cold (40°F or 4.4°C or below). Refrigerate leftovers quickly. Clean cutting boards and countertops with soap and water.

Doctors diagnose staph infections by doing a few things:

1. Checking you over. The doctor will look at any cuts, rashes, or other skin problems. They'll also ask about any other symptoms you're experiencing. This is called a physical exam.

2. Taking a sample. To find out if you have staph, the doctor needs to check for the bacteria. They might take a sample of blood, urine, a sore, pus from an infected area, or even a nasal swab. Testing these samples helps the doctor figure out which kind of staph bacteria is present and what medicine will work best.

3. Other tests, if needed. If the doctor suspects a staph infection, they might order a special picture test called an echocardiogram. This test checks if the infection has spread to your heart. They might also order other tests, like X-rays or CT scans, depending on what's going on with you and what they find during the physical exam. These extra tests help them get a clearer picture of the infection's extent and location.

Treating Staph Infections: A Guide

Staphylococcus aureus, often called "staph," can cause various infections, from minor skin sores to serious illnesses. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, but it's crucial to understand the nuances of this approach.

Antibiotics:

Your doctor will likely test the staph bacteria causing your infection. This helps them choose the best antibiotic for you. Common antibiotics for staph infections include cefazolin, nafcillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, daptomycin, and linezolid.

For severe infections, vancomycin might be necessary. This is because many types of staph bacteria have become resistant to older antibiotics. This means those older antibiotics no longer effectively kill the bacteria. Vancomycin and some other treatments for resistant staph infections need to be given directly into a vein (intravenously) because they are not as easily absorbed in other ways.

If you're prescribed oral antibiotics, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Take the medication exactly as prescribed and finish the entire course, even if you feel better. Ask your doctor about any warning signs that might indicate your infection is getting worse.

It's important to remember that staph bacteria are adaptable. Many types have developed resistance to certain antibiotics. For example, most staph infections today are not treatable with penicillin. This resistance has led to the increased use of intravenous (IV) antibiotics like vancomycin or daptomycin, which can have more side effects.

Additional Treatments:

• Wound Drainage: If you have a skin staph infection, your doctor might need to cut (incise) the affected area to drain any fluid buildup. This will be thoroughly cleaned.

• Device Removal: If the infection is linked to a medical device (like a catheter, pacemaker, or artificial joint), removing the device quickly might be essential. This may require surgery in some cases.

Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.