Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly affects the lower legs. Impetigo This common and highly contagious staph infection begins as small blisters, usually on the face, hands, or feet, that eventually develop a honey-colored crust.
Impetigo usually affects young children, but anyone can develop it. Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome SSSS This condition is caused by toxins produced by a staph infection and results in peeling skin over large areas of the body. The skin might look burned or scalded. It most often affects babies and young children. Learn More About Cellulitis. Learn More About Impetigo. Sepsis Sepsis is an infection of the bloodstream that leads to a widespread inflammatory response. Septic Arthritis This infection targets your joints, often the knees, hips, shoulders, finger joints, or toe joints.
Toxic Shock Syndrome This rare but serious condition can happen when staph bacteria get into your bloodstream and produce toxins. Endocarditis Endocarditis happens when bacteria affect areas in your heart, most typically the heart valves.
Osteomyelitis This uncommon but serious condition happens when a bone in your body becomes infected. Pyomyositis Pyomyositis is a rare bacterial infection of the skeletal muscles, which are the muscles you use for movement. Pneumonia Pneumonia is a common infection that causes inflammation and fluid accumulation in the air sacs of your lungs, making it very hard to breathe comfortably.
Food Poisoning Food poisoning connected to staph is caused by eating foods contaminated by toxins that are produced by the bacteria. It is not a true bacterial infection and should not be treated with antibiotics. Foods typically becomes contaminated by being touched by people who have staph on their hands. But so-called community-associated MRSA, in which the infection is spread outside of hospitals or healthcare facilities, also occurs.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are contributors to the development of MRSA. On an individual level, you can help prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance by taking antibiotics only when necessary not for viral infections like the flu or colds and when they are prescribed to you by a doctor. Also, always finish your full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms have improved, to prevent the development of antibiotic -resistant superbugs, such as MRSA.
Your symptoms of a staph infection will depend on what type of infection you have. Skin infections typically cause redness, swelling, warmth, and pain — but all of those symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Impetigo sores may or may not be painful, for example, while boils almost always are. Some skin infections caused by staphylococcus, such as cellulitis or an infected wound, may cause a fever in addition to redness and pain at the site of the infection. Invasive staph infections, such as sepsis also called septicemia , endocarditis, and pneumonia, typically cause significant illness that may include fever, fast breathing or shortness of breath , fatigue, and sometimes confusion or disorientation.
Healthy people may carry staph bacteria and never know it, but when the skin is broken, the germs can enter the opening or wound and cause an infection. Staph bacteria can also enter the body via urinary catheters, intravenous lines, or other implanted medical devices.
The bacteria can additionally be present on tattoo needles that have not been properly cleaned and needles used to inject drugs, particularly if they are shared or reused. Some staph infections of the skin are contagious and can pass from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact.
Staph bacteria can also survive on objects or surfaces, such as bedsheets, towels, or clothing. Touching contaminated items is another way to get staph. Infections are common in group living facilities, such as college dorms or prisons, where people are in close contact with one another.
Warm, humid environments are also good breeding grounds for staph. You may have a higher risk of developing a staph infection if you have an underlying medical condition, such as:. Taking certain medicines, including corticosteroids , insulin, or chemotherapy, can increase your chance of contracting staph.
Additionally, staph infections are more common in individuals who use illegal drugs. Sometimes staph bacteria spreads through medical tubing, such as dialysis tubes, urinary catheters, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, or intravascular catheters.
You might have a greater chance of getting staph if you use certain devices that require tubing. Playing a contact sport is another risk factor for staph. The bacteria can spread through skin-to-skin contact while playing or through touching equipment, towels, razors, or other items that are shared in the locker room. Recent research has shown household environments play an important role in how staph infections, such as MRSA, are spread.
One study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that staph is more likely spread from person to person in a residence that: 5. Hygiene habits that reduced the risk of staph spread among household members include showering instead of taking baths, brushing teeth twice daily, and practicing frequent hand-washing. To diagnose a staph infection, your doctor will examine any skin lesions you have and possibly take a skin or tissue sample or throat or nasal swab for a lab test to identify the cause of the infection.
In some cases a doctor may order certain imaging tests if a deeper or internal infection is suspected. An echocardiogram , for example, can help your provider determine if the infection has affected your heart. Be sure to include the following items:. Any underlying medical conditions you have may also influence how quickly you heal and recover.
Most superficial skin infections can be easily treated. But if you develop a serious infection that turns into sepsis, your prognosis is much worse. Some studies, such as one published in in The American Journal of Medicine , show death rates from staph infection of the bloodstream range from 20 to 40 percent.
The healing time for a staph infection depends on your age, your overall health, the type of infection you have, and what treatment you use. For instance, a boil can take 10 to 20 days to heal without treatment, but certain medicines may speed up the process, notes Kids Health.
Antibiotics are the main line of treatment for most staph infections. The choice of antibiotic depends in part on how serious your infection is and what type of staph you have. Some minor skin infections will heal on their own with no drug treatment. Invasive staph infections usually require hospitalization for IV antibiotic treatment to fight the infection and other supportive treatment to help you heal.
Antibiotics commonly used to treat staph infections include: 3. Some people are interested in alternative therapies to treat their staph infections. Many internet claims tout applying natural substances, such as coconut oil , tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar , and essential oils, to the skin. One natural remedy that has shown promise is manuka honey. This type of honey has demonstrated antimicrobial activity and the ability to enhance the effects of some antibiotics.
Still, more research needs to be done before manuka honey can safely be used to treat staph, according to an article published in in Letters in Applied Microbiology. Staph bacteria are everywhere. This bacterium lives on the skin naturally, but if it enters the bloodstream through a wound, it can cause sepsis.
It can also cause skin infections and boil-like sores that may be swollen, flushed, and painful. Staph infections are contagious through person-to-person contact. Staphylococcus is an umbrella term for more than 30 types of bacterium. This bacterium can also cause:. In this article, we discuss how contagious staph infections are, their signs and symptoms, how to avoid them, and treatments.
If an individual with staph has a wound that oozes, someone who comes into contact with this liquid can contract the infection. This includes the following transmission methods:. People with staph infections who prepare food for others can pass on the infection through improper food handling.
Food handlers with skin staph infections should therefore avoid handling food until a doctor determines their infection is no longer active. Some people are at greater risk of developing staph infections. This includes those who:. Staph bacterium is alive and contagious when present on the skin.
On objects or materials, it can survive for 24 hours or longer. Therefore, to protect others, it is crucial to cover sores or lesions. People should also wash their hands thoroughly and regularly and avoid close physical contact with others. Staph infections on the skin may initially appear like a bump or pimple but can quickly grow.
They may cause :. Learn about the symptoms of MRSA staph, which is resistant to some antibiotics. Additionally, do not pop a sore that looks like this, as it can worsen the infection. It can be difficult to tell if a bump is a staph infection, so consult with a doctor if a person has these symptoms. Staph infections travel easily from one person to another on objects or through skin-to-skin contact.
However, there are some ways to help minimize the chances of spreading a staph infection, including the below. If someone in the household has a staph infection, everyone in the home needs to practice good hygiene. This may include taking the below steps. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. How golden staph is spread Infections caused by golden staph Drug-resistant strains of golden staph Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem Infection in hospitals Community-acquired golden staph infection Long-term prevention of golden staph Where to get help Things to remember.
Staphylococcus aureus, or S. It is also called golden staph. In most situations, S. However, if it enters the body through a cut in the skin, it can cause a range of mild to severe infections, which may cause death in some cases. How golden staph is spread Golden staph is commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Around two to three out of every tenpeople carry the bacterium in their noses. The armpits axilla , groin and under skin folds are other places golden staph likes to inhabit.
Golden staph can be spread by skin-on-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces. Poor personal hygiene and not covering open wounds can lead to infection with golden staph. Thorough hand washing and good housekeeping, such as damp dusting, are important as golden staph is part of our environment.
Infections caused by golden staph Common infections caused by golden staph include: boils and abscesses — infections of the skin impetigo school sores — a highly contagious, crusty skin infection that may affect newborn babies and schoolchildren.
More serious infections include: meningitis — infection of the membranes lining the brain osteomyelitis — infection of the bone and bone marrow pneumonia — infection of one or both lungs septic phlebitis — infection of a vein endocarditis — infection of the heart valves. Drug-resistant strains of golden staph A bacterial infection consists of countless individual bacteria. Most infections caused by golden staph are treatable with antibiotics.
However, there is a strong possibility that a few bacteria will survive a course of antibiotics, perhaps due to a gene mutation. The antibiotic-resistant golden staph bacteria that remain then flourish, since they no longer have to compete for resources with the rest of the colony. Resistant strains of golden staph are known as multi-resistant S. Unnecessary or excessive use of antibiotics encourages drug-resistant strains.
The overuse of disinfectants in general can also lead to drug resistance.
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