Staphylococcal Infection
Staphylococcal infections are caused by bacteria that commonly live harmlessly on the skin or in the nose of many people, but sometimes enter the body and cause problems ranging from minor skin issues to life-threatening conditions.
Table of contents
- What is a staphylococcal infection?
- Parts of the body affected
- Who gets staph infections?
- Symptoms
- How staph infections spread
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
What is a staphylococcal infection?
Staphylococcal infections, commonly called staph infections, are caused by a group of bacteria called Staphylococcus. There are more than 30 different types of these bacteria[1]. The most common type that affects humans is called Staphylococcus aureus[2].
Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their nose without getting sick. About 30% of people have this bacteria living on them without any symptoms[3]. When staph bacteria do cause infection, they can create many different types of problems in the body.
Some staph infections are mild and can be treated easily. Others can be very serious and even deadly if the bacteria spread to vital organs[1].
Parts of the body affected
Staph bacteria can infect almost any part of the body. The most common place for infection is the skin[2].
Skin infections are the most frequent type of staph infection. These can produce boils, blisters, and red areas on the skin, often around the mouth and nose or in areas where the skin is already damaged[2].
When staph bacteria enter deeper into the body, they can cause serious problems in several organs. The bacteria can infect the breasts in women who are breastfeeding, causing pain, redness, and pockets of pus. In the digestive system, staph can cause food poisoning that leads to vomiting and diarrhea[2].
The bacteria can also infect bones, causing a condition called osteomyelitis that leads to bone pain and inflammation. When staph reaches the lungs, it can cause pneumonia with breathing problems. If the bacteria damage the heart valves, this leads to a condition called endocarditis that can cause heart failure[2].
The most dangerous situation occurs when staph bacteria release toxins into the bloodstream. This can cause septicemia, also called blood poisoning, which is a very serious infection that affects the whole body[2].
Who gets staph infections?
Anyone can develop a staph infection, but certain people face higher risks than others[3].
People who are more likely to get staph infections include those who inject drugs, are hospitalized, have recently had surgery, or have tubes or medical devices in their body such as catheters. Those with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk, including people with HIV, those taking medicines to prevent organ rejection, or those receiving chemotherapy[3].
People who manage chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, vascular disease, eczema, or lung disease have increased risk. Women who are breastfeeding or who have worn a tampon for an extended time are also more likely to develop staph infections[3].
Those who have had surgery on heart valves or have artificial joints, pacemakers, or other implanted medical devices face higher risk. People with deep burns or who are on dialysis are also more vulnerable[3].
Staph infections in children often appear as conditions we know by other names, like impetigo (crusty sores) and styes (infected eyelids)[2].
Symptoms
The symptoms of a staph infection depend on where in the body the infection occurs[1].
Skin infection symptoms
On the skin, staph infections often look like pimples or boils. They may be red, swollen, and painful, and sometimes contain pus. Redness affecting the skin may be harder to see on brown or black skin[3].
Common skin infections include impetigo, which causes sores on the face that burst and leave a yellow crust. Folliculitis creates pus-filled bumps around hair follicles that look like pimples and may be itchy. Boils and furuncles are deep pockets of pus often found under the arms or around the groin or buttocks. Carbuncles are pockets of pus around the neck area[1].
Serious infection symptoms
When staph infects bones, it causes pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in the infected area, along with chills and fever[3].
Infection of the heart valves causes flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, and fatigue. It also creates rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fluid buildup in the arms or legs[3].
Food poisoning from staph typically causes nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. If too many fluids are lost, dehydration can occur[3].
Pneumonia from staph causes high fever, chills, and a cough that doesn’t get better. Chest pain and shortness of breath may also occur[3].
Toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition that causes high fever, sudden low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. A sunburn-like rash may appear somewhere on the body[3].
How staph infections spread
Staph bacteria spread most commonly through direct skin-to-skin contact[3].
The bacteria can also spread when you touch objects that have staph on them, such as towels, clothing, door handles, athletic equipment, or remotes. If you have staph and do not handle food properly when preparing it, you can also spread staph to others through food[3].
Many healthy people carry staph bacteria on their skin, in their noses, or in other body areas. Most of the time, the bacteria do not cause infection or symptoms. This is called being colonized with staph. These people are staph carriers and can spread it to others even though they are not sick themselves[12].
If staph bacteria get into a break in the skin, such as cuts, scratches, or pimples, they can enter the body and cause an infection. Usually the infection stays in the skin, but sometimes it can spread deeper and affect the blood, bones, or joints. Internal organs such as the lungs, heart, or brain can also be affected[12].
Diagnosis
Healthcare providers can often recognize a staph skin infection just by looking at it[1].
To check for staph infections in other parts of the body, providers may do several types of tests. These may include a blood test, testing of infected body fluids, or imaging tests such as an MRI scan or CT scan to identify complications[1].
For skin infections, a cotton swab is used to collect a sample from an open skin rash or sore. For other infections, blood, urine, or sputum (mucus from the lungs) samples may be collected[12].
The sample is sent to a laboratory to test for staph. If staph bacteria are found, they will be tested to see which antibiotic should be used to treat the infection. This is important because some types of staph have become resistant to certain antibiotics[12].
Treatment
Treatment for staph infections is antibiotics, which are medicines that kill bacteria[1].
Depending on the type of infection, antibiotics might be applied as a cream or ointment on the skin, taken by mouth as pills, or given through a needle into a vein[3].
Many staph infections that happen outside hospitals can usually be treated with antibiotics that are resistant to penicillinase, a substance that some bacteria produce to protect themselves. However, infections caught in hospitals are often caused by strains that resist multiple antibiotics[6].
Some types of staph bacteria, called MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), are harder to treat because they are not killed by many common antibiotics. These infections may require different medicines[12].
For skin infections, the provider may need to drain deep pockets of pus. This should only be done by a healthcare professional. Infected tissue may also need to be removed[1].
If the infection involves a medical device such as a catheter, pacemaker, or artificial joint, the device may need to be removed. For some devices, this requires surgery[1].
It is very important to follow your provider’s instructions about how to use antibiotics and keep any wounds clean. Clean the infected area as directed and change dressings often. Wash your hands well with soap and water before and after touching the area[12].
Prevention
You can take several steps to avoid getting a staph infection and prevent spreading the bacteria to others[5].
The most important step is to keep your hands clean by washing them thoroughly with soap and water. You should wash for at least 20 seconds to get rid of bacteria. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, making sure to use enough to cover all surfaces of your hands[19].
Take a bath or shower often and use soap to clean your body. If you get a cut or scrape, clean it with soap and water right away and cover it with a bandage. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with bandages until they heal[5].
Do not touch sores. If you do touch a sore, clean your hands right away. Keep any infected area covered with clean, dry bandages. Wear clothes that cover your bandages and sores if possible[19].
Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or cosmetics with others. Wash clothing, towels, and sheets with warm or hot water and use bleach if possible. Dry them in a warm or hot dryer and make sure they are completely dry[12].
Clean frequently used areas of your home, such as bathrooms and countertops, daily with a household disinfectant or bleach solution. Pay special attention to items that are touched often, like light switches, doorknobs, phones, toilets, and kitchen counters[19].
If you play contact sports, avoid participating until any sores have healed. Do not go to a public gym, sauna, hot tub, or pool until sores have healed[19].
