Staphylococcus sp: is it really it?
When did it really happen? That's the question she asked herself.
A friend of mine diagnosed with staphylococcus spp,heavy growth, kept asking herself that question. How come? I mean she never experienced any of the symptoms.
Or maybe she did but didn't know. She felt healthy and looked healthy,but a urine mcs test showed otherwise.
So making it a point of duty to research on the causes,symptoms,preventions and treatments of this, this is what I found.
S. aureus is sometimes found on the skin of even healthy
human beings. It doesn't have to be a disease-causing
agent. However, if your skin is compromised due to
something like a scratch or surgical incision, this
bacterium can get into the crack in the skin and cause the
typical signs associated with a skin infection, such as
pimples, boils, blisters, a rash, itching, and so on.
CAUSES
Many people carry staph bacteria and never develop staph infections. However, if you develop a staph infection,there's a good chance that it's from bacteria you've beencarrying around for some time.
These bacteria can also be transmitted from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on inanimate objects such as pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.
Staph bacteria are able to survive:
Drying
Extremes of temperature
Stomach acid
High levels of salt
Risk factors
A variety of factors — including the status of your immune system to the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.
Underlying health conditions
Certain disorders or the medications used to treat them can make you more susceptible to staph infections.
People who may be more likely to get a staph infection include
those with:
Diabetes who use insulin
HIV/AIDS
Kidney failure requiring dialysis.
Weakened immune systems — either from a disease or medications that suppress the immune system.
Cancer, especially those who are undergoing
chemotherapy or radiation.
Skin damage from conditions such as eczema,
insect bites or minor trauma that opens the skin.
Respiratory illness, such as cystic fibrosis or
emphysema.
PREVENTIONS
The following commonsense precautions can help lower the risk of developing staph infection.
1. Washing of hands
2. Reducing Tampon risks
3. Keeping wounds covered
4. Keep personal items personal
5. Wash clothing and beddings in hot water
6. Take food safety precautions
image source: google
SYMPTOMS
Most infections caused by S. aureus are
skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses or cellulitis.
S. aureus can also cause serious
infections such as pneumonia (infection of
the lungs) or bacteremia (bloodstream
infection).
Symptoms of these infections
include: difficulty breathing, malaise,
fever, or chills.
TREATMENTS
for her,the staphtlococcus spp. she was told it's resistant to certain drugs. view in picture
She took streptomycin(IM),Chloramphenicol,etc.
Other treatments include
Treatment of Infections Caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
Antistaphylococcal penicillins: Nafcillin, oxacillin
First Generation cephalosporins: Cefazolin
Second Generation Cephalosporins: Cefurxime
Third-generation cephalosporins: Ceftriaxone,
cefotaxime, ceftizoxime
B-Lactam/b-lactamase inhibitor combinations:
Ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam,
ticarcillin-clavulanate
Carbapenems: Imipenem, meropenem.