Your skin is the home base of hundreds of types of bacteria that form the microbiome of the skin. One of these bacteria is called Staphylococcus aureus of Staph. It is usually harmless, but can sometimes cause an infection.
Staph infections can vary from mild, where they are easily treated with antibiotics, to more serious and even life -threatening. Because one Staph infection can look very different from the other, it is important to identify the cause of a suspected infection.
More information, including which symptoms to pay attention, complications that can happen and when it can be time to visit a doctor for treatment if you think you have a Staph infection.
What is a Staph infection?
Staphylococcus, or Staph, is the name of a group of bacteria that are often found on your skin, and about 30% of people in the US, in the nose. Usually Staph infections are caused by a specific Staph bacteria in that group called Staphylococcus Aureus.
A Staph infection starts when Staph bacteria enter your body, usually through a cut or an open pain. The severity of the infection depends on certain risk factors, the strength of the bacteria, where you are infected and how treatable it is.
Staph can infect a number of places in the human body, including both on and in your:
- Skin
- Blood
- Bone
- Heart
- Lung
- Muscles
Are Staph infections contagious?
Yes, Staph infections are contagious and usually spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person who has an infection. Pus of an abscess is particularly contagious, but it can also be spread:
- Shared items such as towels or toothbrushes
- Surfaces that are often touched (depending on the surface material, the bacteria can live outside the body for days, weeks and even months)
- Food treatment
- Bad hygiene
- Drops of coughs and sneezing, but this is rare
Staph infection symptoms depend on where you are infected
Staph infections can cause a number of visible symptoms, but they can also cause other symptoms that are not so easy to detect, depending on where and how you are infected. When you are infected on your skin, it is usually clear that you have a Staph infection. But when Staph infects other parts of your body, this can cause you to experience general flu -like symptoms that can easily be seen for something else.
Staph infections on the skin usually come on the face around the mouth and nose. They usually start with a small part of the skin and look like a pimple or a blister that can be swollen, feel red and warm. But they can cause other conditions, including:
- Folliculitis -When hair follicles get inflamed by Staph, form pimple -like blisters under the follicles and cause pain. This can happen anywhere on the body where it is and usually happens by sweating or skin that is rubbed.
- Stimulus – A common skin rash in children, Stafy bacteria can cause red, itchy ulcers, usually on the face, arms and legs. The ulcers fill with pus, break open and leave a yellow crust on the skin. Impetigo is highly contagious, but usually very treatable when it is caught early.
- Abscesses and cooks – These are the most common symptoms of Staph infections. An abscess is an infectious, painful, pus -filled pain that forms under the skin. And a boil is a painful red bump that develops in an oil gland or hair follicle. These can occur anywhere on the skin, but are most common in areas with hair, sweat or friction, including the face, neck, the armpits, the thighs and the genital area.
- Cellulite – This is an infection that forms and can spread under the skin, where the infected area is called, is swollen and looks red. It can happen for various reasons, including human, animal and insect bites, skin ulcers caused by diseases such as diabetes, and by cracked and peeling skin everywhere on the body.
- Styes – Usually in children, Staph bacteria can cause a bump near the eye that is warm, red and uncomfortable. Most styes leave with home treatment such as a warm compress in the eye or about the opposing medication, but some require antibiotics treatment.
- Staphylococcal bent skin syndrome – This usually affects babies and small children under the age of six as a result of underdeveloped or compromised immune system. Staph bacteria can cause the skin to pelt over large parts of the body, making the skin look like it was burned or burned. And just like Impetigo, it is highly contagious, but easy to treat and usually leaves a few days after the start of treatment.
Staph infections can occur in other parts of the body
If there is a Staph infection in the body next to the skin, this can cause other health problems that vary from mild to life -threatening, including:
- Blood poisoning – Also known as septicemia or bacteremia, Staph bacteria can enter blood flow and cause fever, breathing difficulties, increased heartbeat, mental confusion and dangerously low blood pressure.
- Bone infections – Staph bacteria can cause osteomyelitis, where bacteria can enter your bones due to severe leaks, broken bones or after surgery. It can cause pain and swelling, as well as chills and fever.
- Endocarditis -This is a serious, potentially life -threatening heart condition where bacteria can reach the heart valves through the bloodstream. It can cause fever, weight loss, fast heartbeat and sweating.
- Food poisoning – Staph bacteria can be taken during eating, usually when food is processed or stored incorrectly. This can cause the typical symptoms of food poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In most cases, this solves itself without treatment.
- Mastitis – This is a breast infection that often occurs in people who are breastfeeding. Staph bacteria enter the skin, usually through a cracked nipple, and can lead to inflammation, pain and occasional abscesses.
- Pneumonia – Staph bacteria can infect the lungs, cause fever, chills, breathing difficulties, chest pain and a general unwell. If it remains untreated, this can lead to complications such as Sepsis, where the immune system does not respond properly to an infection or bacteremia, which are bacteria in the bloodstream.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) -TSS usually occurs during menstruation with the use of tampons, but it can also happen after surgery, with an infection of soft tissue or due to burns on the skin. It is a more serious form of blood poisoning and can cause fever, muscle pain and a rash. It can also be life threatening if it is not treated quickly.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Uti’s are often caused by a form of Staphylococcus bacteria called Staphylococcus saprophyticus, who can solve without treatment. Staphylococcus Aureus can also cause a UTI, but it is rare, can be life threatening and usually requires treatment.
Risk factors for Staph infections
Everyone can get a Staph infection, but there are groups of people who run a higher risk. In particular, people who work in hospitals and healthcare institutions usually have more staph bacteria on their skin, but other risk factors are:
- Stay in a hospital or care for a longer period of time
- Sit in kidney dialysis
- Breastfeeding
- Have an open cut or painful
- Be in close contact with someone infected
- With a weakened immune system
- Have a chronic condition, such as diabetes
- Have a medical device in your body, such as an artificial joint or a catheter
- Use tampons for a longer period of time
- Use injectable medicines
How a Staph infection is diagnosed and treated
Your doctor starts by assessing your symptoms and taking a sample of the infected site, or a blood or urine sample. The monster is tested to see if it is positive for Staph.
They determine a treatment course based on the results. This usually means that antibiotics in pill form, intravenous (IV) or via a current antibiotic for prescription. They can also drain, clean and dress your wound if you have one.
Depending on the severity of the infection, you may have to stay in the hospital for treatment where you stay in an isolated area to prevent you from spreading the infection to others.
Methicillinese-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Staph infections
MRSA and Staph infections are the same, but MRSA is a more serious form of Staph infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics. Antibiotic resistant MRSA is the result of long -term, unnecessary antibiotic use. But even when antibiotics are used correctly, they can still contribute to the problem.
Treatment for MRSA may require a course antibiotics that is stronger than usually used, usually given via an IV. But in some cases antibiotics may not be necessary and doctors will drain the boil or abscess to treat the infection.
Most MRSA infections occur in people who have been in hospitals or other medical facilities, such as nursing homes or dialysis centers. Others occur in people who have had invasive operations or implantations of medical devices. MRSA infections In these situations, as a result of accidental contamination or fall into the sterile protocols that health workers and facilities usually follow closely.
MRSA infections can also occur with healthy populations. This is called MRSA associated by the community. It usually starts when a skin cooked and is spread by contact person. It is usually found in places where people live in busy circumstances, childcare facilities and in contact sports, such as wrestling.
Prevention is important when it comes to Staph infections
The right hand wash can prevent many things, and it is especially important when it comes to Staph infections and stopping the spread of bacteria. Other tips for hygiene include:
- Hand disinfecting agent with a concentration between 60-80% alcohol if you cannot wash your hands right away
- Arrange cuts and scratches immediately and cover them with a clean bandage
- Avoiding contact with the wounds or connections of others, and wearing gloves such as contact cannot be avoided
- Completely drain your breasts with any food or pump session if you are breastfeeding
- Sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors or clothing
- Keep your home environment clean by ensuring that all surfaces are regularly disinfected, including counter tops, door buttons and light switches
- Change tampons regularly (if you use them) and use the lightest absorption required for your electricity
If you think you have a Staph infection, it is important to see your doctor
Although small Staph infections can clean up themselves, there is no guarantee that will be the case. For your health it is best to receive treatment and use antibiotics as prescribed, so that the infection does not get worse and spreads to other parts of your body, and to prevent the infection from returning.
For small conditions caused by Staph such as mastitis or a UTI, you can make an appointment with your doctor for primary care, a video of Emergency Care Problem trying or visiting Virtuuwell, our handy online clinic.
But if you have a severe skin infection, experience symptoms that do not disappear automatically, or experience with regard to symptoms, go to the nearest urgent care Or the first aid as soon as possible. It is important to get treatment right away, so the infection has no chance to spread and get worse.
