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Staphylococcal Infection

Staphylococcus Bacteria

Staphylococcal infection or more commonly know as, "Staph", is an infection caused by species of Staphylococcus Bacteria. It generally tends to colonize on the skin and in the nose, where they will remain harmless until they enter the body through a cut or any other open laceration . Staphylococcus can produce a wide variety of skin infections, as well as a variety of other diseases; for example impetigo, food poisoning, cellulitis, and toxic shock syndrome. Anyone can contract Staph; but, pregnant women, children, people with chronic diseases or are immune-deficient are often more susceptible to contracting an infection . Staph infections are often treated with antibiotics, but this has caused antibiotic-resistant strains of staph infection to occur. The most common antibiotic-resistant strain is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Causes

Staph infections have a multitude of different causes, such as:

• Open wounds - This is by far the biggest cause of staph infection. Any open wound, even ones as small as a paper cut, are vulnerable to being infected. Staph bacteria will enter the body through any open wound, so it is important to properly treat, disinfect, and bandage any wounds.
• Contact with infected persons or surfaces - Staph infections are very contagious when in contact with a person that is already infected. A person with staph infection is contagious until the bacteria is completely out of their body, and any wounds from the infection are healed. It is common to see the spread of staph in contact sports; i.e. wrestling, through contact in locker rooms, or by sharing any equipment.
• Weakened immune system - Anyone with a weakened immune system for any reason can be more easily affected by staph bacteria, because their bodies are unable to defend against infectious bacteria as well.
• Unwashed linens - Staph bacteria is very resistant under harsh conditions, and they will cling to objects where they can create a niche. Unwashed bath towels, blanket, bed sheets, and clothes can create a great environment for this bacteria to grow. This is important to recognize, because every single day people use linens in their daily lives.
• Infection after surgery - Hospitals is a very common place for staph bacteria to contaminate. This becomes problematic when people are in surgery, because in some cases staph can be introduced to a persons body when an incision is opened.
• Invasive devices - Medical devices that have any connection to organs to the outside of the body are very problematic, because they allow an easy open pathway into the body. Examples of these devices are; catheters, dialysis tubing, feeding tubes, breathing tubes, etc.

Signs and Symptoms

Impetigo rash

Staph infection is typically characterized by redness, pus, swelling, and tenderness in areas of the infection. But, each type of skin infection caused by staph bacteria is different.

A few common skin infections caused by staph bacteria are:

• Boils - Boils are the most common type of staph infection, they are pockets of white pus that start where a hair follicle or oil gland is. The boil is tender and red where the infection is located on the skin.

• Impetigo - Impetigo is most prominent among children, and is usually located around their mouth, nose, hands, and feet. It shows up like a rash of painful blisters, will eventually produce pus that is yellowish in color.

Cellulitis rash

• Cellulitis - Cellulitis is also rash-like, the skin that is infected will be red, swollen, and usually warm to the touch. Cellulitis commonly infects the lower legs, but can also, less commonly, affect the face and arms.
• Staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome - Staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome is caused by toxins produced when a staph infection gets too severe. It is characterized by a fever, rash, and blisters.
• Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - MRSA is one of the most common antibiotic-resistant strain of staph bacteria. It is more difficult to treat than other staph infections. MRSA causes rashes, boils, sores, and other abscesses.

Treatment

Treatment for staph infection varies depending on what type of infection you get and how severe the infection is. But, common treatments are antibiotics, topical creams, and drainage/cleaning of infectious wounds.

Epidemiology

Staphylococcus bacteria is one of the leading community-acquired bacterium out there. According to the CDC, with a push from hospitals to better prevent staph infections the percent of people affected has dropped dramatically. But, staph infections are still prominent and are still a concern among healthcare professionals, especially with the new antibiotic-resistant strains. In the U.S. the incidence of staph infection is around 38.2 to 45.7 per 100,000 person-years, which compared to other first-world countries that have an average incidence rate of 10 to 30 per 100,000 person-years.

References

1. "Staph Infections" Mayo Clinic
2. "Staphylococcal Infections". Medline Plus. US National Institute of Health
3. Hersh, AL., Chambers, HF., Maselli, JH., Gonzales, R. "National Trends in Ambulatory Visits and Antibiotic Prescribing for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections" American Medical Association. ARCH INTERN MED/ VOL 168 (NO. 14), JULY 28, 2008
4. Klutymans, J., Belkum, A., Verbrugh, H. "Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus: Epidemiology, Underlying Mechanisms, and Associated Risks". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. July 1997, p. 505–520 Vol. 10, No. 3
5. Lowy, FD. "Staphylococcus Aureus Infections". The New England Journal of Medicine. August 20, 1998 Volume 339 Number 8
6. "Deadly Staph Infections Still Threaten the U.S." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 5, 2019