Staph Infections

Staph Infections Anytime you hear about a staph infection, you probably feel a little queasy.

Staph infections can be serious, however, with proper precautions they can be treated in a relatively short amount of time with most cases. As a nurse, you must keep yourself protected.

Staff Infection Facts Staphylococcus is the true medical name for staph. It is a group of bacteria that can cause a variety of diseases. Staph infections can cause disease due to an infection or due to the production of toxins from the bacteria. Boils, Cellulitis, Impetigo, and Toxic Shock Syndrome are examples of disease from staph. Symptoms of staph usually include pus, as from a boil or abscess. The area may be tender, red, and swollen, and at times very painful. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA is a form of staph that is particularly resistant to antibiotic treatments and other drugs that can usually help with staph. As a general rule, staph infections are treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics, however, MRSA is often unaffected by the usual treatment, making it more serious. Staph infections are contagious, and should be treated with care. MRSA in particular should be treated with extra caution due to the serious nature of the condition, and the inability to treat it.

Related: Working a Call-in Nurse Line Skin Staph Infections Approximately 25% of the population has staph that already lives in the nose, mouth, genitals or anal area. They don’t display symptoms, so they have no way of knowing that they have staph. The foot is also at risk of picking up bacteria from floors. It’s always a good idea to wear some type of slip on shoe in a hotel room, spa, gym, any place that the general public may walk without shoes. Staph infection of the skin can begin with a small cut, which then gets infected with bacteria. The skin will appear a yellow color and may turn the skin semi hard, and be painful. (I had a personal experience with a staph infection on my hand many years ago. Walking my dog with a retractable leash, he pulled the leash cord, and the cord rubbed across my hand, between my thumb and index finger, sort of a rug burn.

There was very little pain and it did not appear to break the skin. I was

outdoors, so I did not immediately wash my hands, especially since I saw no cut/visible opening. Two weeks later I had a major staph infection on my hand that had turned into gangrene. Apparently the cord on the leash had just the right contaminants, that it burned them into my skin. The actual cut/opening was so small I could not see it, however, bacteria are microscopic, and it had no problem taking over. In this case, had the wound been bigger, and actually bled, I may have avoided the infection, that sometimes cleans it out, in this case no such luck. It took several months to heal my hand back to normal, needless to say it was a lesson learned) Staph infections can be as simple as a boil, or as serious as flesh eating infections.

What determines the seriousness of the infection is how deep it goes on the skin, how fast it multiplies, and if it is resistant to antibiotics.

Cellulites Cellulitis is a form of staph infection on the skin that actually goes into the skin's deeper layers. It is treatable with antibiotics, however, can be painful and look very red and inflamed until properly healed. Cellulitis is very common in the general population, especially nursing homes, or with people that have diabetes or weakened immune systems. Cellulitis often affects the legs, and can make walking painful and difficult. When pressure is applied to the skin, it can leak fluid/pus, which is how this infection spreads.

Cellulites can start as an ulcer or small sore on the skin, that later develops into cellulites, spreading to surrounding areas. Symptoms include inflammation, redness, warmth and pain. Steph infection needs to be treated right away to avoid a serious infection that is more difficult to treat.

Related: Helping Patients with Seizures Staph Infection in the Nose It is not uncommon to have staph living in the nostrils, and in most cases it is a small enough amount that it does not cause an infection. If the staph multiplies, an infection can develop, making the nostrils swollen, and sore.

Staph living the nostrils of one person can be transmitted to another, and staph can live outside the body, a surface can be contaminated with staph.

Hand washing is still the best defense, grocery carts, gas pumps, theatre seats, can all harbor bacteria that could be transmitted to whomever comes in contact with it.

All of this being said, there is no need to run out and buy a germ charm to add to your Pandora. Germs and bacteria are all around us, so it does not pay to be super paranoid. Live a normal life, just use some cautions such as-

Wash hands regularly, especially after being in public, stores, doctors' offices, or gyms. Be sure to wash children's hands and faces after spending time at daycare, staph can spread quickly with children.

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Always wear shoes, slippers or flip flops at gyms, poolside, or hotel rooms.

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Always treat a cut, even if it's minor. You do not have to go overboard with antibiotic ointment, just washing the wound with soap and water, and covering it with a bandage is usually enough to prevent further complications.

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If the nose becomes sore, or swollen, assume it has a minor infection.

Avoid touching it without washing hands immediately, as it can spread.

Be sure to use appropriate protection for sneezes or when blowing nose.

Always see your healthcare provider if you feel you have a staph infection.

Also be sure to look for symptoms in your patients. Red streaks, severe discomfort, heat and swelling are all indications that you should seek medical attention right away. A throbbing pain to an area on the skin is very dangerous and could result in loss of limb if left untreated. As with any medical condition, caution is usually all that is needed to keep you safe and protected.

Related: Leading Nurse Educator Joan Miller, RN, CRNP, PhD, Professor Emeritus to be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare as New Member of the International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter