People with lowered immune systems — if you have cancer, diabetes or other chronic conditions that lower your immune system, you are at higher risk for developing a staph infection.
People who frequent communal environments — locker rooms and shared bathrooms increase the risk of coming into contact with staph bacteria. Athletes — athletes who participate in sports with skin-to-skin contact wrestling, basketball or football are more at risk for developing a staph infection. Healthcare workers or healthcare patients — people who work in a healthcare environment or patients receiving care in a hospital or other facility are at greater risk of developing staph and complications from the infection.
Symptoms of staph infection Symptoms of staph vary from a mild skin infection to life-threatening if it gets into the blood and affects the lining of the heart. Boils Boils are the most common type of staph infection. Symptoms of staph infections caused by skin abscesses or boils include: Pain and swelling at the affected area Pocket of pus that develops over a hair follicle Typically occurs in the groin or under the arms Impetigo Large blisters that could ooze fluid Painful rash Cellulitis Cellulitis is a skin infection in deeper layers of the skin typically caused by Staphlyococcus.
Redness and swelling on the surface of the skin Sores or ulcers that ooze discharge not in all cases Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Staph infections can sometimes produce toxins that lead to staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.
Symptoms include: Fever Rash Blisters — when the blisters break, the top layer of skin can peal to leave a surface looking like a burn Food poisoning Food poisoning is often caused by staph bacteria. Symptoms of staph bacteria-induced food poisoning include: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Low blood pressure Dehydration Septicemia blood poisoning When staph enters the blood stream, it causes septicemia.
Symptoms of septicemia include: Fever Low blood pressure Bone and muscle aches Toxic shock syndrome Staph bacteria are linked to toxic shock syndrome through the use of tampons. Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include: High fever Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain Muscle aches Rash that resembles a sunburn Diagnosis of staph infection Mild staph infections can be diagnosed and treated by your primary care provider, who will ask you about your symptoms and examine any skin lesions.
Treatments for staph infection Staph requires an antibiotic treatment, varying based on the severity of the infection. Recovery from staph infection Each case of staph infection is different, but most often staph will resolve in weeks. Find a primary care doctor nearby. Mercy Health locations that can treat you. 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. Dogs can pass a staph infection to humans through contact with a wound or dog bite. Dogs are very similar to humans in relation to staph — the bacterium lives on their skin and in their nose and can cause skin and systemic infections.
Wearing gloves and practicing proper handwashing are also important while changing bandages, grooming, petting, or playing with the dog. A person should also properly dispose of soiled bandages and any toys that may have come in contact with the affected area of the dog.
Alternatively, a person could sanitize any toys the animal has used. Staph bacterium cannot survive in water that is properly chemically treated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC state that there have been no reports of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus MRSA — a serious form of staph resistant to antibiotics — that has spread through the water at recreational pools. However, a person could still acquire this infection from someone at a pool through direct contact or by touching a contaminated object such as a seat or towel. To avoid this:. Minor staph infections may clear up on their own, but they may require medical intervention and treatment with antibiotics.
This can help stop them from worsening, spreading, or coming back. It's important to finish your course of antibiotics, even if you're no longer infectious and feeling better. Not finishing the course may result in the infection returning. Page last reviewed: 25 June Next review due: 25 June Home Common health questions Infections Back to Infections. How long will I be infectious after starting antibiotics?
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