Staph infection is primarily caused by a bacteria naming staphylococcus that can cause mild to a chronic form of infection. This infection, in general, remains minor when it affects only the skin area however if bacteria enters into your bloodstream then it can cause major health concern so immediate staph infection treatment should be provided.

There are several staph bacteria exists in the human body out of them staphylococcus is the most common one which can cause minor to deadliest form of infection if the bacteria manages to enter your bloodstream, heart, lungs, joints, and bones.

The staph infection that affects to your external layer of skin can be rid of with proper care and antibiotics application. However if the bacteria enters inside the body through an external wound or through the respiratory tract then it can cause a major form of infection that can be proved life threatening too, if necessary treatment is not started on time.

Causes of Staph Infection

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The bacteria causing staph infection exists in many people body but it doesnâ€™t affect every one of them or cause any type of harm. Still, if someone develops staph bacteria it means that the bacteria was already surviving in your body and have not reflected its effect previously.

Staph bacteria can survive very easily in high temperature, dried environment, salty surfaces and in stomach acid too. This is a contaminated disease that can easily transmit from one affected person to other by an infected towel, pillowcases, foods etc. There are several factors and reasons that can cause you to develop this kind of infection. Some of them are mentioned below.

Unhygienic Food Preparation Process

As staph bacteria lies in the skin so the possibility exists that it can transfer from their skin to any other thing that they are handling without properly washing the hands. This is the reason anyone carrying this infected bacteria if prepare a food can easily contaminate that food resulting the food can make a healthy person infected if they consume it.

Special Underlying Health Issues

Staph infection can make a person victim of this disease if they are going through certain types of diseases and also due to some kind of medications which is used to treat those health concerns.

A cancer patient especially who has to take chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat this underlying health issue is susceptible to be a victim of staph infection. Anyone who has a weakened immune system caused by the use of some medications or due to some diseases that can suppress the immunity power can develop this infection easily.

Diabetes patients who have to take insulin, HIV or AIDS patients, respiratory diseases such as emphysema or cystic fibrosis, kidney failure where dialysis is required are all come under the suspicion to get staph infection at any point of time.

Apart from this some kind of skin-damaging or trauma that causes to open the skin layers, insects biting and skin diseases like eczema that can damage the skin surface, are most likely to develop a staph infection.

Use of Invasive Devices

Staph infection bacteria can travels through all medical devices and instruments that connects your internal organs with the external world or environment. Such devices include breathing tubes, urinary catheters, intravascular catheters, feeding tubes, dialysis tubing etc.

Any Recent Hospitalization

Though in hospitals full care for proper hygiene is maintained then also staph bacteria hides and lies inside the hospitals and can attack some patient with special medical conditions. Patients who are most likely to be a victim of staph bacteria include those who have develops a burn, have a very weakened immune system and have some kind of surgical wounds.

Sports Group Contact

Staph infection is a contaminated disease or health condition so it easily transfers from one affected person or from their belongings to other healthy people who come in the contact of either affected person or use their infected belongings.

This is the reason sports group people are most likely to develop this infection if any of their group members have developed this infection. These bacteria can easily spread through cuts, skin to skin contact, abrasions etc.

Likewise, this bacteria can spread at a faster rate in the locker room where people mostly share the belongings of each other including towels, razors, sports equipment, uniforms etc.

Symptoms of Staph Infection

Staph bacteria can cause to develop from a minor to the chronic form of infection depending upon the location it has infected. That is the reason its symptoms vary on the basis of affected location by the staph bacteria. Below we have enlisted all the signs or symptoms of staph bacteria on the basis affected location.

Staph Infection in Skin

Skin is the most affected and commonplace that get a staph infection. Following skin issues develops by staph bacteria attack.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a deeper layer of infection in the skin that causes redness and swelling in its upper or surface skin layer. Soreness and oozing discharge may appear due to this kind of staph infection.

Boils

Boils is a widely known and most common form of staph infection that causes pus in the infected hair follicles or the skin oil glands. It makes the affected skin surface reddish and swollen. This type of skin staph infection develops in underarms, groins and buttocks area of the body.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

The Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome mostly develops in young babies and children which is caused by toxins produced by the staph infection. The affected person develops symptoms like rash, fever, and blisters too. If these blisters break then it leaves behind a reddish and raw skin surface equivalent to a burn area.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a kind of staph skin infection that causes a painful rash. It develops large oozing fluid blisters and curst that looks like honey.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening staph infection which occurs due to some type of toxins produced by strains of staph bacteria that attaches itself to a tampon, surgery and skin wounds. Its symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, high fever, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and rashes develop in soles and palms that looks similar to sunburn.

Septicemia

Septicemia is another severe form of skin infection where staph bacteria enter into the bloodstream of a person that is why it is also known as blood poisoning. These bacteria can easily travel deeper inside your body and can infect other body parts too.

Its symptoms include low blood pressure, fever etc. The affected area includes bones, muscles, lungs, brain, and heart. It can infect any surgically implanted device inside the body such as cardiac pacemakers, artificial joints etc.

Septic Arthritis

When staph bacteria attack any of the joint parts of the body it causes septic arthritis. This kind of staph infection develops in toes, fingers, hips, knees, and shoulders. Its symptoms include fever, joint swelling and intense pain in the infected joint area.

Food Poisoning

Most of the food poisoning cases are caused by the staph bacteria which can easily contaminate fresh and healthy food. Any healthy person who eats such contaminated foods easily gets a victim of food poisoning

The affected person starts developing its symptoms within an hour of eating, however, mostly the symptoms disappear on its own and lasts around half a day in general. The symptoms of food poisoning caused by staph infection include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and dehydration. It hardly causes fever.

Staph Infection Treatment

Staph infection may develop from a very mild form to as chronic condition that can even cause life risk if appropriate treatment measures are not given in time. In general, for a mild form of skin staphs, infection medications like antibiotic ointments and oral antibiotics are given to treat and relieve the condition of a patient.

In the case of abscesses, treatment method includes drainage, incision, and surgery. When staph infection remains in more critical forms like an infection in the bloodstream, internal organs like heart, lungs, bones etc. are treated by intravenous antibiotics and necessary medical care is given.

If any antibiotic medication is not showing any effective change and reduction in the condition of the patient then some other antibiotics are given to relieve the intensity of infection. Also, antibiotics are given based on the resistant power of the particular bacteria which has caused infection.

For the mild form of staph infection, antibiotic ointments like triple antibiotic mixture (nonprescription) or penicillin are used for the treatment.

As per the intensity and severity of infection, doctors prescribe different types of antibiotics to the patients. Some common antibiotics which are used to treat staph infection include cephalexin, cefuroxime, nafcillin (Nallpen), vancomycin, cefazolon, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, rifampin, clindamycin, telavancin etc.

For treating the staph infection combination of different forms of antibiotics or any other antibiotic can be prescribed by the doctors. Some staph strains like MRSA are resistant to several forms of antibiotics.

Preventive Measures

Some preventive measures and precautions can eliminate the risk of developing staph infection health issue. These preventive tips include the following-

Change Tampon on Time

Tampons which left inside the vaginal zone for longer period easily make a suitable environment for staph bacteria breeding resulting in staph infection develops. This kind of staph infection is known as Toxic shock syndrome.

For preventing staph infection (toxic shock syndrome), it is vital for every woman who uses a tampon during their period time to change it very frequently at least within four to eight hours it should be changed.

Another safety measure you can use for avoiding the tampon related staph infection by using a lower absorbency tampon so that you will be bound to change it within a few hours of use. Also, try to replace tampons from a sanitary napkin as these are safer than the tampon.

Always Keep Wounds Covered

Open wounds make a suitable environment to breed and enter the staph bacteria inside the body resulting in staph infection health issue appears. So as a preventive measure keep all the cuts and abrasions properly cleaned and cover them with a sterile and dry bandage until it is healed completely.

These wounds develop pus which contains staph bacteria that can easily spread to a nearby location if wounds and sores remain uncovered. However by keeping these wounds properly covered one can avoid this type of infection to spread further.

Clean Your Clothing and Bedding Properly

As the staph bacteria can easily survive and breeds in your clothing and bedding so it is necessary to wash all these clothes properly to avoid the risk of staph infection in the body. Cleaning these clothing in hot water can kill the all existing staph bacteria and make them safer for users.

If not very often then on an interval try to clean your bedding and clothes in hot water. Also, try to dry them through dryer instead of in open air for more safety. From time to time use bleach while washing these clothes.

Maintain Hygiene while Cooking

Staph infection is a contaminated disease so it can easily spread through a contaminated food item. In order to avoid food-related staph infection, it is important to wash hands properly before handling or cooking foods as if the person who is preparing and serving foods has skin staph infection can easily spread it through their hands. Always keep foods covered and refrigerate the leftover foods.

Wash your Hands Regularly

Bacteria are the micro-organisms that your bare eyes cannot see. This is the reason without our awareness these staph bacteria exist in our hands and when we keep our hand unhygienic then chances to spread staph infection exists.

In order to avoid such concern and for preventing the risk of staph infection it is necessary for everyone to wash their hands properly with a good hand wash. Also, dry your hands with a clean towel or a disposable drying paper. Apart from this, you can use hand sanitizer with 60 % alcohol content under the condition your hands are not visibly dirty.

Donâ€™t Share Personal Belongings

Staph bacteria can easily survive in any clothing and equipment and when someone uses these infected belongings of a person then they also get a victim of staph infection. In order to avoid staph infection caused by using personal belongings of an affected person, it is important to avoid the sharing habit of otherâ€™s towel, clothing, razors, razors and sports equipment etc.

Though you can relive your condition by applying the staph infection treatment measures still prevention is always considered better than cure. So try the above mentioned preventive tips to avoid the risk of developing staph infection health issue.

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Staph Infection : Causes, Picture, Symptoms and Treatment