Staph infection FAQs

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What is Staphylococcus?

Staphylococcus is group of bacteria known commonly as "Staph". Staph, can cause a multitude of problems. Staph bacteria can cause illness directly by infection (such as in the skin) or indirectly through products they make such as toxins responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.

There are over 30 different strains of Staph, but the culprit of infections is usually Staphylococcus aureus. Staph is found on the skin and mucous membranes of around 30% of humans, but in these individuals it is considered "normal flora" (bacteria that doesn't cause a problem).

What are complications of Staph infections?

Staph infection can be simple and localized, such as with impetigo of the skin. It can, however, become widespread, by infecting the blood. It can thereby seed to various areas of the body, such as the bone, kidneys, or heart. This spreading occurs more commonly in persons with abnormally suppressed immune systems.

Scalded skin syndrome is a potentially serious side effect of infection with the Staph (Staphylococcus) bacteria that produces a specific protein which loosens the "cement" holding the various layers of the skin together. This allows blister formation and sloughing of the top layer of skin. If it occurs over large body regions it can be deadly (just like a large surface area of the body having been burned). It is necessary to treat scalded skin syndrome with intravenous antibiotics and to protect the skin from allowing dehydration to occur if large areas peel off. The disease occurs predominantly in children under 5 years of age. It is known formally as Staphyloccoccal scalded skin syndrome and as Ritter disease.

MRSA and VRSA

MRSA and VRSA are two strains of Staph that are resistant to antibiotics. These infections used to be rare and often acquired from a hospital, but now they are more common. Before the 1980's, 1 in 100 individuals had these infections. Now 1 in 25 have these infections, and in some areas the infection rate is as high as 1 in 15.

Once someone has MRSA it is almost impossible to be rid of the strain of staph. Extra precautions must be taken any time that individual has a cut or injury.

If you have:

• an injury that just won't heal
• an infection that won't go away
• a small cut or scrape that suddenly becomes very deep or long
• areas of the skin that look like they are "rotting" or "falling off"
• boils
• an abscess
• celullitis (a condition where the fat and tissue beneath the skin are infected, usually seen as small red bumps on the surface on the skin)

see your doctor immediately to rule out an MRSA infection.

MRSA can become life threatening. Later symptoms can include fever, low blood pressure, joint pains, severe headaches, shortness of breath, and a rash that covers most of the body.

If you live in an area with infrequent rains, such as the desert, take caution after a rain storm. In areas where the rain does not occur frequently, MRSA lives in the air. When that first rain falls, it takes the MRSA down with it. If you are immunosuppressed (you have cancer or AIDS or are taking a steroid) or pregnant, you should take extra precautions. Make sure to bathe thoroughly after being in the rain, and if you have any cuts on your skin wash them thoroughly with soap and hot (not boiling) water. Cover your cuts with bandaids to prevent infection. It is also advisable to wash any clothes that become saturated in hot water with an oxygenated bleach (i.e. oxyclean).

Here is some specific info for kids... one strain starts with an ear infection in children...

You can help prevent your child from developing a staph infection by encouraging regular hand washing, keeping your child's skin clean with a daily bath, and keeping areas that have been cut clean or covered. It is not necessary to use antibacterial soap -- regular soap and water will kill bacteria as long as it is used properly.

How Staph Infections Spread
Staph can spread through the air, on contaminated surfaces, and from person to person. A child can carry staph bacteria from one area of the body to another on dirty hands and under dirty fingernails. Staph can pass from person to person the same way. So hand washing is the most important way to prevent staph infections.

You can also help prevent staph skin infections by keeping your child's skin clean with a daily bath or shower. If your child has a skin condition such as eczema that makes frequent bathing difficult, speak with your child's doctor for advice.

Clean commonly used household items as well with hot soap and water, or with the brown Lysol in the bottle (the concentrate). Clorox and Lysol wipes will not kill all strains of Staph, especially MRSA and VRSA. If you use Clorox and Lysol wipes, wipe the surface thoroughly and allow the solution to air-dry. If you use another towel to dry the surface after the wipe, not only will the bacteria remain alive but you will spread it from surface to surface as you clean.

Complications of Staph Infections

Staph bacteria can cause folliculitis, boils, scalded skin syndrome, impetigo, toxic shock syndrome, cellulitis, and other types of infections.

Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that can affect skin anywhere on the body but commonly occurs in the area around the nose and mouth.

Impetigo usually affects preschool- and school-age children, especially in the summer months. Impetigo caused by staph bacteria is characterized by large blisters containing fluid that is first clear, then cloudy. The blisters may burst, ooze fluid, and develop a honey-colored crust. Impetigo may itch, and it can be spread by scratching. Typically, impetigo is treated with a topical ointment prescribed by a doctor and, depending on the severity, oral antibiotics may be added.

Folliculitis and Boils
Folliculitis is an infection of hair follicles, tiny pockets under the skin where hair shafts (strands) grow. In folliculitis, tiny white-headed pimples appear at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple. Children with fine hair that is often worn tightly pulled back in barrettes or braids are particularly susceptible to folliculitis.

Without treatment, folliculitis can either heal within 1 week or progress to become boils. With a boil, the staph infection spreads deeper and wider, often affecting the skin's subcutaneous tissue (deeper tissue under the skin) and the oil-producing glands, which are called sebaceous glands. In the first stage, which parents and kids often miss, the area of skin either begins to itch or becomes mildly painful. Next, the skin turns red and begins to swell over the infected area. Finally, the skin above the infection becomes very tender and a whitish "head" may appear. The head may break, and the boil may begin to drain pus, blood, or an amber-colored liquid. Boils can occur anywhere on the skin, especially under the arms or on the groin or buttocks in children.

To help relieve pain from a boil, try warm-water soaks, a heating pad, or a hot-water bottle applied to the skin for about 20 minutes, three or four times a day. Boils are occasionally treated with oral antibiotics and in some cases need to be surgically drained.

Without treatment, boils may heal once they open up and drain, but treatment makes them heal faster and may prevent the staph infection from spreading to other skin areas.

Scalded Skin Syndrome
Scalded skin syndrome (SSS) most often affects newborns and children under age 5. The illness usually starts with a localized staph skin infection, but the staph bacteria manufacture a toxin that affects skin all over the body. The child has a fever, rash, and sometimes blisters. The rash begins around the mouth, then spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs. As blisters burst and the rash passes, the top layer of skin is dislodged and the skin surface becomes red and raw, like a burn.

Scalded skin syndrome is a serious illness that needs to be treated and monitored in a hospital. It affects the body in the same way as serious burns. After treatment, most kids make a full recovery from SSS.

Treating Staph Infections
Most localized staph skin infections can be treated by washing the skin with an antibacterial cleanser, applying an antibiotic ointment prescribed by a doctor, and covering the skin with a clean dressing. To keep the infection from spreading, use a towel only once when you clean an area of infected skin, then wash it (or use disposable towels).

For most serious staph skin infections, your child's doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for your child. If so, give the antibiotic on schedule for as many days as your doctor directs.


Call the doctor whenever your child has an area of red, irritated, or painful skin, especially if you see whitish pus-filled areas or your child has a fever or feels sick. Also, call the doctor if skin infections seem to be passing from one family member to another or if two or more family members have skin infections simultaneously.

(Thanks to HUDSON21 and medicinenet.com)

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Originally Posted by skimo Been watching the news? Reading the paper or checking out these threads on HCW re: this "superbug" that is all over the news? Odds are… YES! While we have been aware of MRSA in hospitals for some time now, there is certainly a heightened awareness in the community. The CDC attributes 94,000 infections to MRSA here in the US and close to 19,000 deaths each year. That is rather an interesting statistic- given that the CDC also estimates that in 2005 12,500 people in the US died from the AIDS virus. Staggering when you think about it, isn’t it? Staphylococcus aureus is a very common bacterium that in the past was easily treated with drugs from the penicillin family- like methicillin and amoxicillin. But, this crafty little organism has developed a drug resistant strain known as MRSA- methicillin resistant staph aureus. When MRSA first emerged, it was basically noticed in the hospital setting. But, in the past several years, there has been a surge of MRSA in the community-It is causing infections in school settings, especially among athletes, as well as in daycares and prisons. Anywhere that people have close contact, MRSA flourishes. Most typically, CA-MRSA presents itself as skin and soft tissue infections. Often these sores or boils are referred to as spider bites- but this is a misconception. They are not caused by spiders, but instead occur from a break in skin- possibly from a cut or tear allowing the bacteria to enter the tissue. Sores should be treated by a physician and kept covered. Typically, it is not the skin and soft tissue infections that cause deaths from MRSA. Deaths occur when MRSA infects the lungs- causing pneumonia, or from bone or blood stream infections. Once someone has had MRSA, they usually become colonized with it- and carry it as part of their normal flora. It can still be spread to others this way. The most likely mode of transmission of MRSA no matter what the setting is…. HANDS! Hand Hygiene is the best defense! Good cleaning technique is also important. Lathering your hands with soap and using warm water while washing for 15 seconds is your best 1st choice. For children who are too young to provide their own nail care / hygiene, keep their fingernails clipped short so dirt and debris does not collect under the tips of the nails. There are gels that can be used instead of handwashing, but this should only be used when soap and warm water is not available, or you are in a hurry. Hospitals have lots of these dispensers mounted in the patient rooms and hallways as they are a 'fast' way to perform hand hygiene between patient contact and since they are readily available they do improve compliance with hand hygiene. In the hospital, a patient with MRSA is placed under 'contact isolation.' Anyone entering the room is required to wear a gown and gloves, including family members and visitors. Why is this done when so many people in the community have MRSA? Well- in the hospital people are ill- and thus more susceptible to acquiring an infection! If this patient happens to come back to the hospital 2 years later, regardless of their new diagnosis, they will again be placed under 'contact isolation.' Please stress to your teenagers, to not share personal items like razors, towels or deodorant. Hand hygiene is key!

Originally Posted by theartsymom Most typically, CA-MRSA presents itself as skin and soft tissue infections. Often these sores or boils are referred to as spider bites- but this is a misconception. They are not caused by spiders, but instead occur from a break in skin- possibly from a cut or tear allowing the bacteria to enter the tissue. Sores should be treated by a physician and kept covered. DD's presentation was a bump on the the roof of her mouth. It started out as a skin colored, dime sized raised area. Then it got bigger, turned white, and began to look like a staglagtite in the center of her mouth. It was red around the outside and whitish near the middle of the abcess. It was gross.

Originally Posted by skimo Wow! I'll bet that was concerning!

Originally Posted by theartsymom We were very concerned. Here is the whole story on her blog- you need may/june archives for the MRSA ORDEAL. The short story was she ended up on three medical facilities in on day- had an 8 day inpatient stay at MC Childrens- came home on IV meds and with a PICC line- and home health. 8 weeks of isolation followed and she may need brain surgery for another issue they found during her MRI/CT scans. Life's Like This: 5/1/07 - 6/1/07

Originally Posted by tunkany Two years ago I had a staph infection, too, due to infected eczema. My arms were covered with boils. They were itchy, so first I thought I had allergies, but then more and more appeared with yucky pus in the middle, so I went to the derm who diagnosed staph infection. I was put on antibiotics which didn't help. I went online and I read that garlic is an anti-bacterial. I ate lots of fresh cloves every day as well as rubbed garlic juice on the boils. It cleared up the infection in a few days. The problem is that these bugs are resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics usually interrupt the life cycle of bacteria but some strains can mutate and become resistant. Sometimes natural agents are more effective, such as garlic. Oregano oil is also reported to kill staph.

[couponfairy1969]

Please remember to wash your hands!!!!My DH has Staph in his leg--now it's in both legs(
celullitis (a condition where the fat and tissue beneath the skin are infected, usually seen as small red bumps on the surface on the skin)
When it first started it looked like a sunburn-then the pus followed, then the skin fell off- then "gag" the hosiptal bill- 1st trip was one month 65,000-next trip 40,000 since then we have been able to maintain it-with the use of antibotics when we see the first signs. And yep-now his "good" leg is infected. it's a daily routine to make sure his really bad leg is "well" because this stuff never-never completly goes away. They ruled out MRSA , but his leg was so damaged from the inital infection that he has repeated instances of it. So people if your sick-go to the docter and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!. We have to live in a sort of a bubble because and infection that comes into the house DH can have another flare up. It doesn't really matter what we have-we all three had the stomach flu last week-now we get to deal with this. :)