MRSA – Staph Infection Symptoms & Treatment

Staph infection is short for Staphylococcus, which is a type of bacteria. There are over thirty different types of the Staph bacteria, but Staphylococcus aureus causes the most staph infections to include:

• Skin infections (most common form of staph infection)
• Pneumonia
• Food poisoning
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Blood poisoning (bacteremia)

But, like most healthy people, you probably already have some of the bacteria on your body, in your nose, or in your throat. And, most of the time, the bacteria doesn't cause any problems, or if it does, it's usually a minor skin infection. But, sometimes, the bacteria will burrow deep into your body and will invade your bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs, and heart, which can prove fatal.

In the past, most fatal staph infections occur in people who were hospitilized or who already had a chronic illness or a weakened immune system. But, now, there are a growing number of healthy people, developing life-threatening staph infections. It has been said that, presently, in some areas of the United States deadly staph infection rates are higher than Aids.

But, what proves as a higher concern and problem with staph infections, is that the bacteria no longer responds to common antibiotics. Although, staph infections can still be successfully treated, it only becomes a matter of time before the bacteria has evolved, and is resistant to all other current medications.

The Staph bacteria can cause illness in two different ways: (1) through direct infection and (2) through toxins that the bactia produce. The toxins, are what is to blame for food poisonings, toxic shock syndrome, and other MRSA and CA-MRSA infections.

The Staph bacteria can be caused by:

1. Skin infections develop when the Staph bacteria enters your body via a cut or abrasion in your skin. Eczema, psoriasis, shaving irritations, and any other conditions that make your skin more fragile and sensitive, will enhance the risk of infection.
2. Food poisoning caused by the bacteria is caused by foods that are not handled or stored properly. Because the bacteria grows best at room temperatures, remember to refrigerate high risk foods, such as potatoes, eggs, mayonnaise, cream, custards, etc.
3. Toxic shock syndrome was often fatal in 1980, and was linked to the used of super-absorbent tampons, as the tampons are a great breeding ground for the bacteria. The tampons can, also, irritate the vagina, making it possible for the bacteria to enter your bloodstream. But, toxic shock syndrome can affect men and children for other reasons.
4. Septic arthritis is caused when the Staph bacteria spreads to a joint from an infection in another part of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis increases your risk because arthritis medications suppress your immune system and increase the risk of infection.
5. MRSA is a form of staph infection that emerged in hospitals, and is, now, a growing threat in health care facilities worldwide. In hospitals and nursing homes, MRSA can spread on the hands of health care workers and on many surfaces to include bedrails, catheters, cart handles, and even remote controls.

6. CA-MRSA caused MRSA that is community associated. CA-MRSA is spread by the people who picked up the bacteria in the hospital, and carry in outside the hospital doors in their nostrils.

Since there are various forms of the infection, staph can have various different signs and symptoms.

Skin Infections

• Boils
• Cellulitis (potentially life-threatening infection that can leave the skin inflamed and tender)
• Impetigo (rash common in young children and infants)
• Scalded skin syndrome (blistering condition that mainly affects newborns)

In general, the signs of each of the above conditions include skin redness, swelling, fever, warmth in the area, and tenderness.

Food Poisoning

The onset is usually as soon as six hours after eating, and can leaves suddently. Most people fully recover after a day or two. The most common symptom associated with food poisoning are abdominal cramps, nausea, vomitting, and diarrhea.

Toxic shock syndrome

• High fever
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Rash on palms of your hands and soles of your feet that resemble sunburn
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Seizures
• Headaches

Septic arthritis

Usually the knees are targeted, but other joints such as ankles, hips, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, can be affected by the bacteria. Along with septic arthritis the symptoms are swelling and severe pain in the joint, fever, and shaking chills.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

• Starts as a superficial skin issue, resembling a pimple or spider bite
• Quickly turns into a deep, painful abscess

In surgical wounds the signs are severe pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes draining pus.

In general signs can include fever, sweats, and chills.

Other symptoms may vary according to which parts of your body were infected, as the bacteria can enter your bloodstream, bones, heart lining, and lungs.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA)

• Pneumonia (cough, shortness of breath, chest pains)
• Massive inflammation of lung tissues
• Destruction of the lung tissues

Doctors can diagnose staph infection by taking a tissue sample or nasal secretion. The sample is sent to a lab to check for bacteria growth. Because the test takes 48 hours, people who have MRSA can worsen or even die within that time frame. So, new tests can detect the staph bacteria DNA in a matter of hours, but these tests are much more expensive and not as widely used.

Penicillin was once used as an effective antibiotic treatment against the staph bacteria, but as bacteria can evolve, it will. After using penicillin for just a decade, half of the staph bacteria became resistant to the antibiotic, but now less than 10% of staph infections will respond to the antibiotic.

Today, doctors use vancomycin, which is a much stronger and more toxic antibiotic. Although, vancomycin is effective in saving the lives of those who suffer severe staph infections, it is used rather frequently, which make it likely that the bacteria will evolve once again and become resistant to it. A few cases have already been recorded in which the bacteria did not respond to the antibiotic. Doctors are trying to use the antibiotic only when its really necessary, in order to reduce the evolution of the bacteria.

There are a few newer antibiotics now available to treat staph infection, but they are much more expensive, and even still the bacteria has shown signs of resistance.

As staph infections are so widespread, it can be hard to fully protect yourself in preventing the infection. But you can lower your risk by using common sense precautions.

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
• Keep wounds covered and clean.
• Watch the high- risk foods that you eat by avoiding any foods that you feel may not have been stored or cooked properly.
• Reduce tampon risksby changing frequently (at least every 4-8 hours) or switching usage between tampons and sanitary pads.
• Keep your personal items personal by not sharing towels, sheets, razors, clothing, and athletic equipment.
• Get tested so that you have time to get treated in case that you do have staph infection.

Although anyone can contract staph infection, as it is a bacteria that we all have in our skin, MRSA and CA-MRSA can target specific populations .

MRSA:

• Current or recent stay in a hospital.
• Long-term stay in a care facility.
• Invasive devices such as catheters or feeding tubes.

CA-MRSA:

• Young age. Children do not have fully developed immune systems.
• Old age. As with age, our immune systems begin to decline, making us more inclined to illnesses.
• Contact Sports. Skin to skin contact, abrasions, and cuts, are 3 top traveling means for the bacteria.
• Sharing towels or athletic equipment.
• Having a weakened immune system.
• Living in crowded or unsanitary conditions.

Yes, believe it or not, your pets can contract staph infection, just like you can.

When it comes to your pets watch for excessive scratching, as that is the most common cause. Other things that can cause your pets to contract staph infection include fleas, inhalant allergy, food allergy, and flea and tick dips. All of these factors can enhance itching.

Watch for red area on the skin that have a pimple-like bump in the middle. Sometimes staph infection can resemble ringworm. Most of the time it will appear as a crusty abrasion on your dog's belly. Your vet can confirm staph infection in your dog or cat by making skin cultures or a biopsy.

But, don't worry. You can't catch the staph bacteria from your dog or cat because you already have the bacteria on your skin. And, no, staph is not contagious from your dog or cat to you.

Just make sure to keep an eye our for red, crusty lesions on your pet, so that you can take a trip to the veterinarian for a check up. Your vet can perform a skin scrap to determine whether or not your pet has contracted staph infection. And treat him, or her, accordingly.

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