Staph infections are caused by a type of germ called staphylococcus bacteria. If it is on the surface, staphylococcus bacteria can be harmless. Many healthy people have this somewhere on their skin or in their nose without any issues. However, if the bacteria travel deeper into your body as a result of a weakened immune system or if you come into contact with a particularly harmful strain, your health could seriously be at risk. The aim of Staph Infections 101 is to give a brief summary of the infection and how it can be recognized, treated, and prevented.
Symptoms
There are a wide range of symptoms that an infection from the staph bacteria can cause, but most infections begin with the skin. The most common sign will be the appearance of boils, pus-filled pockets on the skin, around the underarms, buttocks, and groin area. Children often suffer from a blistering rash called impetigo, which develops around the mouth and nose. Impetigo blisters often ooze before crusting over. Older patients tend to suffer from a condition called cellulitis in the lower legs and feet. This is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin, but may show up on the surface as redness and swelling. More serious symptoms of a staph infection can include bacteremia (blood poisoning), toxic shock syndrome, and septic arthritis.
Treatment
Treatment for staph infections will vary based upon what strain you have and what your symptoms are. Skin infections will most often be drained of any fluid buildup. To attack the infection itself, a doctor will test what exact strain is causing the affliction and then prescribe the antibiotic that is most likely to be effective. Two common antibiotics used are cephalosporin or nafcillin.
Prevention
One of the most common places to contract a staph infection is in a hospital. This is because the human turnover rate is very high, increasing the exchange of germs, and because hospital patients tend to have weaker immune systems. An easy way to help avoid this is by using hand sanitizer often, but a more effective way is for hospitals to ensure they have thoroughly sanitized sheets. In-house laundry systems are usually not as good as professional laundry services, and linens that have not been perfectly disinfected create the risk of cross-contamination. If you are running a hospital, keep this in mind as you consider your current linens situation and ways to decrease the likelihood of cross-contamination occurrences. If you are an individual, you can decrease your risk by keeping your hands clean and avoiding sharing personal items such as razors or towels.