Staph Infections If you have practiced nursing a long time, you have undoubtedly encountered a patient that has had a staph infection. They can come from a number of things, some you would never begin to suspect, such as a very minor cut. A 35-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with a life-threatening staph infection. It took some time to determine just how she contracted this infection, however eventually it was narrowed down. While walking her dog, on a retractable leash, the dog suddenly pulled the least, rubbing the rope across the woman’s hand. It was a slight rope burn, however not a cut, there was no open wound. In this case, that was not a good thing. The cut would have been better off had it bled some. The woman did not even wash the area, as it did not appear to be open at all. The small abrasion seemed fine at first, however after several times of attempting to treat it, the patient realized she needed professional care. She was hospitalized later that day with a severe staph infection, which took almost one month to clear up. It was assumed the rope on the dog leash had just the right germs on it to cause this very bad staph infection. Staph infections can come from very small punctures. A very severe staph infection can come from the patient having eczema. A small crack in the skin created just enough of a portal for the right type of bacteria to enter. Related: How to Make Your Patients feel more Comfortable Staph infections are very intermittent, and may affect one person, yet not another exposed to the same elements. Staph infections are contagious, and precautions should be made. Always wear gloves, and if there is a chance of fluid being released, wear a protective mask and gown. Staph infections can come from rashes, such as a yeast infection. It’s important not to touch surfaces the patient has touched until a staph infection has been ruled out. Everyone has a certain number of staph bacteria alive and on the surface of the skin. In most cases it lies dormant, and causes no trouble. One small puncture can change this, again, proper hand washing and hygiene can avoid a contamination. When Diagnosed When a staph infection is detected, it must be aggressively treated. The physician may prescribe strong antibiotics to clear the infection up as soon as possible. A strong course of antibiotics will almost always take care of a
staph infection, although if a patient has a compromised immune system it could pose complications. Any patient that has a lump on their skin that has a red appearance, and may feel warm to the touch, should be tested for a staph infection. Staph bacteria can also take up residence in the nose, eyes or mouth, in fact they are already there, just not out of control. If they do begin to multiply an infection could develop, and while staph infections of the nasalpassages are fairly common, they are also quite uncomfortable and difficult to treat. Staph thrives in warm wet areas, so the nasalpassages are a perfect breeding ground. Clean warm salt water delivered in the form of a nasal rinse may help prevent or cure a staph infection in the nasal cavity. A staph infection in the mouth can be very painful, and should be diagnosed and treated by a dentist. Always be sure even the smallest cut is washed and treated to avoid contamination and possible infections. Proper hygiene plays a big part in avoiding such conditions, so encourage patients to wash hands often and use hand sanitizer as needed. Related: Esteemed Family Nurse Practitioner, Merry Christine Blantz, FNP-C, will be Presented in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter