Penicillin was effective in treating golden staph until the bacterium became resistant. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, new antibiotics such as methicillin and vancomycin were developed, which successfully treated golden staph infections.
Methicillin-resistant strains of golden staph evolved in the s and have troubled hospitals worldwide with persistent infections in patients. A vancomycin-resistant strain of golden staph emerged in Japan, and strains with partial resistance to vancomycin have been found in the USA, Australia and other countries. Infection in hospitals Hospital patients are more likely to be infected by golden staph because of surgical or other wounds.
These people can become seriously ill if their golden staph infections resist treatment from most types of antibiotics, and they may require isolation from other patients. Standard hygiene practices undertaken by hospital staff include: always washing hands when they are soiled for any reason using an alcohol-based hand rub solution with or without chlorhexidine between patients when taking observations such as pulse and temperature , bed making or performing other similar duties washing hands before, and after, performing procedures on patients wearing gloves, gowns and masks if necessary handling used equipment and laundry with care isolating infected patients when required thoroughly cleaning all surfaces.
Community-acquired golden staph infection Golden staph infections with resistant strains are becoming more common in the community, including among people who have not been in hospital recently within the past year or had a medical procedure such as dialysis, surgery or catheters. These are similar, but different to strains of golden staph found in hospitals, and can cause mild to severe infections. Preventing the spread of golden staph Since golden staph is easily spread by contaminated hands, strict hygiene practices are needed, such as hand washing with soap and warm water, as well as good housekeeping.
Cover all open wounds with a waterproof occlusive dressing until healed. These solutions are not necessary in the home or work situation. There are some situations when alcohol-based hand rub solutions should never be used — for example, instead of washing after going to the toilet. Hands should be washed with soap and warm water and dried.
Long-term prevention of golden staph Worldwide measures need to be taken to prevent new resistant strains of S. Experts propose: a more conservative approach to using antibiotics the use of narrow-spectrum rather than broad-spectrum antibiotics limiting the use of antibiotics like vancomycin maintaining or upgrading hygiene practices in hospitals and the community good infection prevention and control measures, such as hand washing developing new lines of antibiotics that are effective against golden staph.
Where to get help Your doctor Things to remember Staphylococcus aureus S. Golden staph can cause a range of mild to severe infections. Excessive use of antibiotics has led to drug-resistant strains of S. More information here. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? This bacterium can also cause:.
In this article, we discuss how contagious staph infections are, their signs and symptoms, how to avoid them, and treatments. If an individual with staph has a wound that oozes, someone who comes into contact with this liquid can contract the infection. This includes the following transmission methods:. People with staph infections who prepare food for others can pass on the infection through improper food handling.
Food handlers with skin staph infections should therefore avoid handling food until a doctor determines their infection is no longer active. Some people are at greater risk of developing staph infections. This includes those who:. Staph bacterium is alive and contagious when present on the skin.
On objects or materials, it can survive for 24 hours or longer. Therefore, to protect others, it is crucial to cover sores or lesions. People should also wash their hands thoroughly and regularly and avoid close physical contact with others. Staph infections on the skin may initially appear like a bump or pimple but can quickly grow. They may cause :. Learn about the symptoms of MRSA staph, which is resistant to some antibiotics.
Additionally, do not pop a sore that looks like this, as it can worsen the infection. It can be difficult to tell if a bump is a staph infection, so consult with a doctor if a person has these symptoms. Staph infections travel easily from one person to another on objects or through skin-to-skin contact. However, there are some ways to help minimize the chances of spreading a staph infection, including the below.
If someone in the household has a staph infection, everyone in the home needs to practice good hygiene. This may include taking the below steps. Dogs can pass a staph infection to humans through contact with a wound or dog bite.
Dogs are very similar to humans in relation to staph — the bacterium lives on their skin and in their nose and can cause skin and systemic infections. Wearing gloves and practicing proper handwashing are also important while changing bandages, grooming, petting, or playing with the dog. A person should also properly dispose of soiled bandages and any toys that may have come in contact with the affected area of the dog.
Symptoms come on quickly, usually within hours of eating a contaminated food. Symptoms usually disappear quickly, too, often lasting just half a day. A staph infection in food usually doesn't cause a fever. Signs and symptoms you can expect with this type of staph infection include:. Also known as a bloodstream infection, bacteremia occurs when staph bacteria enter a person's bloodstream.
A fever and low blood pressure are signs of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to locations deep within your body, to produce infections affecting:. This life-threatening condition results from toxins produced by some strains of staph bacteria and has been linked to certain types of tampons, skin wounds and surgery.
It usually develops suddenly with:. Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria often target the knees, shoulders, hips, and fingers or toes. Signs and symptoms may include:. 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 been carrying around for some time.
These bacteria can also be transmitted from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on objects such as pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.
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. 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:. Despite vigorous attempts to eradicate them, staph bacteria remain present in hospitals, where they attack the most vulnerable, including people with:.
Staph bacteria can travel along the medical tubing that connects the outside world with your internal organs. Examples include:.
Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Staph infections may also spread in the locker room through shared razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.
Food handlers who don't properly wash their hands can transfer staph from their skin to the food they're preparing.
0コメント