Staph Infections, Essay Example

Staphylococci (Staph) infections present menacing problems for numerous people as a health concern. In fact, there are more than 30 variations of this family of bacteria. About 200 years ago, Pasteur and Koch were the first to discover and cultivate staph (Yeznach), which is a kind of bacteria. This is a community of bacteria that is carried on the skin or in the nostrils. Staph infections are making a comeback (Krisberg) as more cases are being reported annually.

Patients in hospitals are more susceptible for contracting staph infections. Patients who receive dialysis treatments, diabetic treatments, drug-addicted treatments, or skin condition treatments are more susceptible to contracting staph than is the general population. Post surgical patients are more susceptible. Also, older patients are more at risk as are intensive care patients, burn patients, patients with surgical wounds, patients who receive intravenous therapy, patients who are in the hospital for a long time, patients who are taken antibiotics for a long time, and patients with close proximity to other patients. Additionally, at higher risk are those in day care centers, military groups, and prisoners. Anxiety is also at work about staph for those who work in hospitals.

This infection is spread on clothes and bedding and transferred through the air. Also, dust particles can carry staph from one place to another as they drift along. Infected areas tend to encapsulate. Infected sites can be drained as a means to heal staph lesions that form around infected locations. Infections that will not heal are treated with oral penicillin, sometimes for years. Patients typically say that staph appears initially as red, swollen areas that look like spider bites. These areas can turn into boils, blisters, or abscesses. In order to reduce the risk of contracting staph infections, people are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water several times daily. Other measures and practices that lessen the risk of staph include keeping surfaces clean, washing clothes, and covering open cuts and wounds. If a person thinks they have staph, and particularly if this belief is accompanied by a fever, they should visit a doctor immediately (Smith).

One strain of staph, MRSA (Mersa), is the most dangerous kind. It is painful as well. MRSA was first identified in the 1960s. It resists antibiotic treatments, such as penicillin. Mersa infections can be carried for a long time and will not result in infections until the skin is compromised. Whereas up to one out of every three people carry around some staph on their skin or clothing, only about one to two percent of the population carry the Mersa variation of it. In 2005, almost 19,000 people died from this (Edmonds). This is spread skin to skin. The sharing of towels and razors should be avoided. By far, this is the hardest form of staph to treat, but it can be treated successfully.

Serious issues arise when staph infections enter the bloodstream. After this happens, lungs, bones, joints, the heart, and the central nervous system can be affected. Although much less common than skin staph infections, staph infestations of staph to other parts of the body are possible and do occur infrequently. People who have undergone chemotherapy are more susceptible to staph than are others. Hospital surgical staffs take extra precautions against the possibility of staph by thoroughly cleaning operating rooms and using sterile equipment there. Women need to change tampons frequently to reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Special laboratory tests are required to determine the exact form of staph that is at work and to suggest the most effective medicines to work against the bacteria that is present.

Common areas for staph infections are hair follicles which can induce boils. Impetigo is a superficial skin infection related to staph. So is cellulitis, but this form is more under the top layer of skin tissue. Eye styes are another form of mild staph. Wound infections usually appear within a couple of days after surgery if the yare going to crop up. It is sometimes a good idea to treat all members of a family a prescription strength nasal spray and an antibiotic bath. Although it uncomfortable for children, it is a good idea for a physician to drain infected areas. It is also advisable to cover red areas with a bandage. Anyone can get a staph infection. There is no vaccine for it. Oral and intravenous antibiotics are the main way that it is treated.

Works Cited

Edmonds, Don. “Deadly Staph Infections on Rise.” American School Board Journal 194, 12(2007): 7.

Krisberg, Kim. “Public Health Responding to New Threat of Staph Infections.” Nation’s Health 36, 7 (2006): 1-12

Smith, Andrea. “Five Things You Can Do to Help Prevent Staph Infections.” NEA Today 26, 4 (2008) 53.

Yeznach, Jeanette. “Understanding Staph Infections is Key to Combating Them.” Pharmacy Times August, 2