Staph infections

Description

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of many healthy people. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively mild infections of the skin.

But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeply into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections.

Usually, treatment involves antibiotics and cleaning the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond or become resistant to common antibiotics. To treat antibiotic-resistant staph infections, health care providers can require the use of antibiotics that may cause more side effects.

Symptoms

Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to life-threatening illness. For example, endocarditis, a serious infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium) may be caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. The signs and symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

Infections of the skin

Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

  • Boils.The most common type of staph infection is the boil. This is a pocket of pus that forms in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen. If a boil breaks open, it is likely that drain the pus. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.
  • Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can be caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. Impetigo usually have large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust.
  • The cellulite. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin. It causes redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores or areas of oozing discharge can develop it, too.
  • Staphylococcal skin scalded syndrome. The toxins produced by the staph bacteria can cause staphylococcal skin scalded syndrome. It mainly affects infants and children, this condition include a fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off. This leaves a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil. This is a pocket of pus that forms in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen.

If a boil breaks open, it is likely that drain the pus. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.

Food poisoning

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of food poisoning. The bacteria multiply in the food and produce toxins that make you sick. The symptoms come on quickly, usually within hours of eating a contaminated food. The symptoms usually disappear quickly, too, often lasting just half a day.

A staph infection in food usually doesn't cause a fever. The signs and symptoms you can expect with this type of staph infection are:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Low blood pressure

Bacteremia

Also known as a blood stream infection, bacteremia occurs when bacteria bacteria enter the bloodstream. Fever and low blood pressure are signs of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to places deep within your body to cause infections that affect:

  • The internal organs such as the brain (meningitis), the heart (endocarditis) or the lungs (pneumonia)
  • The bones and muscles
  • Surgically implanted devices, such as artificial joints or heart pacemakers

Toxic shock syndrome

This life-threatening condition, the results of the toxins produced by some strains of staph bacteria. The problem has been linked to certain types of tampons, skin wounds and surgery. It usually develops suddenly with:

  • A high fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet that looks like a sunburn
  • The confusion
  • Muscle aches
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria often are directed to the knees, shoulders, hips, and fingers of the hands or feet. The artificial joint may also be at risk of infection. Signs and symptoms may include:

  • The swelling of the joints
  • Pain in the affected joint
  • Fever

When to see a doctor

Go to your health care provider if you or your child has:

  • An area of redness, irritation or pain in the skin
  • Pus-filled blisters
  • Fever

You also may want to talk with your doctor if:

  • Infections of the skin are being passed from one family member to another
  • Two or more members of the family have infections of the skin at the same time

Causes

Many people carry staph bacteria on the skin or in the nose and never develop staph infections. However, if you develop a staph infection, there is a good chance that it's from bacteria you've been carrying around for some time.

Staph bacteria can also be transmitted from person to person. Because of the staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live in objects, such as pillowcases or towels enough time to transfer to the next person who touches it.

The staph bacteria can make you sick, causing an infection. You can also get sick from the toxins produced by the bacteria.

The staph bacteria can survive:

  • Drying
  • Temperature extremes
  • The acid of the stomach

Risk factors

Many factors — including the health of your immune system, or types of sports that are played — may increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Underlying health conditions

Certain disorders, or medications used to treat them can make you more likely to get staph infections. People may be more likely to get a staph infection are those with:

  • Diabetes who use insulin
  • HIV/AIDS
  • The renal failure that requires dialysis
  • Weak immune systems, either by disease or drugs that suppress the immune system
  • A transplant
  • Cancer, especially those who are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • The damage of the skin from conditions such as eczema, insect bites or minor trauma that opens the skin
  • Lung (respiratory) disease, such as cystic fibrosis or emphysema

Current or recent hospitalization

Despite strong attempts to get rid of them, the staph bacteria to be present in the hospitals, where they can infect people who are at higher risk of infection. This can include people with:

  • Weakened immune systems
  • Burns
  • Surgical wounds

Sometimes people admitted to the hospital can be examined to see if they are carriers of the bacteria staphylococcus. The detection is performed using a nasal swab. Treatment to get rid of the bacteria may be given to help prevent infection and reduce the spread to others.

Invasive and implanted devices

Staph bacteria can enter the body by traveling along medical tubing. These devices make a connection between the outside and the inside of your body. Some examples are:

  • Urinary catheters
  • The tube is placed in a vein (intravenous catheters)

Also, staphylococci are attracted to the implanted devices, where they grow on the surface and cause an infection. These include surgically implanted devices such as:

  • Artificial joints
  • Cardiac pacemakers

Contact sports

Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, scrapes and skin-to-skin contact. Staph infections may also spread in the wardrobe of sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

Unsanitary food preparation

Food handlers who do not wash their hands can transfer bacteria staphylococcus (staph) of your skin to the food he is preparing. The bacteria multiply in the food and produce toxins that make you sick. Cooking can kill bacteria. But the toxins are still in the food. Foods that are contaminated with the staphylococcus bacteria does not look or taste different.

Complications

If the staph bacteria invade the bloodstream, it can develop into a type of infection that affects the whole body. Called sepsis, the infection can lead to septic shock. This is a life-threatening episode when the blood pressure drops to an extremely low level.

Staph infections can also result in death if the bacteria invade deeply into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.

Prevention

These common-sense precautions can help reduce your risk of developing staph infections:

  • Wash your hands.Hand washing is your best defense against germs. Wash your hands with soap and water vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Then dry them with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands are not visibly dirty or are not able to wash your hands, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, such as before, during, and after the meal; after handling raw meat or poultry before eating, after using the bathroom; and after touching an animal or animal waste.
  • Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected wounds often contains bacteria staphylococcus (staph). Keep the wound covered helps keep the bacteria from spreading.
  • Reduce the buffer of risks. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. Tampons left for long periods of time, they can grow bacteria staphylococcus (staph). You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently — at least every 4 to 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency of tampon can. Try to alternate tampons with sanitary napkins, whenever possible.
  • Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread in the objects, as well as from person to person.
  • Wash clothing and bed linen. Staph bacteria can spread in the clothing, towels and bedding. To remove bacteria, wash and dry the garment in the warmest temperature recommended by the elements of the labels. It's okay if you can't use hot water, as the use of detergent in the wash is enough to make the items clean and safe for use. You can use bleach any bleach-safe materials.
  • Take precautions to food safety. Wash your hands before handling food. If the food is going to be out for a while, make sure that hot foods are kept warm above 140 ° F (60 ° C). Make sure that cold foods stay in the 40 F (4.4 C) or less. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible. Wash cutting boards and counters with water and soap.

Wash your hands. Hand washing is your best defense against germs. Wash your hands with soap and water vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Then dry them with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands are not visibly dirty or are not able to wash your hands, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, such as before, during, and after the meal; after handling raw meat or poultry before eating, after using the bathroom; and after touching an animal or animal waste.

Staph infections

Diagnosis

To diagnose a staph infection, your health care provider general:

  • Perform a physical exam. During the exam, your doctor will examine your skin, sores or red areas that you may have. Your healthcare provider may also review any other symptoms.
  • Collect a sample for the test. Most often, the providers diagnose staph infections by checking a blood, urine, skin, infected material or nasal secretions for signs of the bacteria. Additional tests can help your provider to choose the antibiotic that will work best against the bacteria.
  • Recommend other tests. If you are diagnosed with a staph infection, your doctor may order an imaging test called an echocardiogram. This test can check if the infection has affected your heart. Your doctor may order other imaging tests, depending on the symptoms and the results of the tests.

Treatment

The treatment of a staph infection may include:

  • The antibióticos.Su doctor may perform tests to identify of the staph bacteria behind your infection. This can help your provider to choose the antibiotic that will work best for you. Antibiotics commonly prescribed to treat staph infections include cefazolin, nafcillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid. For severe infections by staphylococci, vancomycin may be required. This is because many strains of bacteria have become resistant to other traditional antibiotics. This means that antibiotics can't kill the staph bacteria. Vancomycin and some other antibiotics used for antibiotic-resistant staph infections has to be given through a vein (intravenously). If you give an oral antibiotic, be sure to follow the instructions of use. Finish all the medicine that your doctor gives you. Ask your doctor what are the signs and symptoms you should watch for that may mean that the infection gets worse.
  • The drainage of the wound. If you have an infection of the skin, the doctor may make a cut (incision) in the wound to drain fluid that has accumulated there. The area is also cleaned thoroughly.
  • Removal of the device. If the infection is a medical device, such as a urinary catheter, pacemaker or artificial joint, the prompt removal of the device may be necessary. For some devices, removal may require surgery.

Antibiotics. Your doctor may perform tests to identify of the staph bacteria behind your infection. This can help your provider to choose the antibiotic that will work best for you. Antibiotics commonly prescribed to treat staph infections include cefazolin, nafcillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid.

For severe infections by staphylococci, vancomycin may be required. This is because many strains of bacteria have become resistant to other traditional antibiotics. This means that antibiotics can't kill the staph bacteria. Vancomycin and some other antibiotics used for antibiotic-resistant staph infections has to be given through a vein (intravenously).

If you give an oral antibiotic, be sure to follow the instructions of use. Finish all the medicine that your doctor gives you. Ask your doctor what are the signs and symptoms you should watch for that may mean that the infection gets worse.

Antibiotic resistance

Staph bacteria are very adaptable. Many of the varieties that have become resistant to one or more antibiotics. For example, today, most staph infections can't be cured with penicillin.

Antibiotic-resistant strains of staphylococci are often described as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The increase in antibiotic-resistant strains has led to the use of INTRAVENOUS antibiotics, such as vancomycin or daptomycin, with the potential for more side effects.

Preparing for your appointment

While you may first see your family doctor, you may be referred to a specialist, depending on your organ systems are affected by the infection. For example, you may be referred to a specialist in treating skin conditions (dermatologist), disorders of the heart (cardiologist) or infectious diseases.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you can make a list that includes:

  • Detailed descriptions of its symptoms
  • The information about the medical problems that you have had
  • Information about the health problems of your parents or siblings
  • All the medicines, herbs, vitamins, and other supplements that you take
  • The questions you want to ask your health care provider

For a staph infection, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What is the best treatment for a staph infection?
  • Am I contagious?
  • How do I know if my infection is getting better or worse?
  • Are there restrictions on the activities that must be followed?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely ask you a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms? Could you describe to me?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Has been near someone with a staph infection?
  • Do you have any implanted medical devices, such as an artificial joint or a cardiac pacemaker?
  • Do you have any medical conditions, including a weakened immune system?
  • Has recently been in the hospital?
  • Play contact sports?

What you can do in the meantime

If you suspect that you have a staph infection on the skin, keep the area clean, dry and covered until you see your health care provider so that you don't spread bacteria. And until you know whether or not you have a staph infection, do not share towels, bedding and clothes, and do not prepare food for other people.

Symptoms and treatment of Staph infections