Staphylococcus is group of bacteria usually present on the skin, nose and throat. They cause infections in human and animals. They are the most common cause of food poisoning. They are usually grown on improperly stored food. Hence beware of eating unhealthy food.

Most of the time, the bacteria cause no problems or relatively minor skin infections.

 

Causes

Can cause direct infections or through toxins that the bacteria produce.

 

Risk factors

• Newborn infants
• Breast feeding women
• People with burns, diabetes, cancer, HIV etc
• Injecting drug users
• People who are on dialysis and intravenous catheter
• Living in crowded and unsanitary conditions

 

Symptoms

     1)Skin infections:

• Folliculitis- infection of the hair follicle
• Furuncle- commonly known as boil
• Carbuncle- cluster of several furuncles
• Impetigo- crusting of the skin 
• Cellulitis- inflammation of the connective tissue under the skin. Usually after injury or surgery                 

 

     2) Inflammation of the breast or breast abscess

     3) Food poisoning:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration

     4) After entering the blood stream can causes serious infections:

• Sepsis and shock in severe burns
• Pneumonia
• Osteomylelitis/arthritis- inflammation of the bone or joint
• Endocarditis: infection of heart valves

 

     5) Toxic shock syndrome: especially in menstruating women using vaginal tampons.

• Fever
• Rash
• Low blood pressure
• Can lead to shock and death

 

 

Prevention

• Proper hand washing
• To refrigerate food properly
• Avoid sharing personal items like towels, razors, clothing etc
• Frequently change the tampons

 

 

Treatment

Antibiotics- Penicillin, Amoxicillin and others

Half of all staphylococci are resistant to Penicillin

Only 10% responds to Penicillin, in those cases higher antibiotics are used

Higher antibiotics to be used if they are resistant to Penicillin and its groups