Saturday, July 10, 2010

Staphylococcus Bacteria - The Cause Of Staph Infection.

By Jane Scott

A staph infection occurs when the staphylococcus bacteria enter the body through a wound. Most of the time this bacteria is found on the skin or in the nose of very healthy people. It causes no trouble and the host is not aware that the intruder is there. However, it will make its entry into the body if there is a tear in the skin or some other sort of open injury.

Once the bacteria cause the start of a staph infection, it can cause many different illnesses to develop. There are over 30 different types of staph bacteria and each one causes its own kind of disease. These illnesses have a wide range of severity. Some are minor and remain on the surface areas of the skin. Others can cause very serious conditions such as pneumonia or meningitis. If a staph infection enters the body's blood stream it can reach the heart or urinary tract. In these cases it can potentially cause death.

Resistant strands of the staphylococcus bacteria can be one of the most difficult types of staph infection to treat. These strands resist common anti biotic treatments. It takes an aggressive type of therapy to get rid of resistant strands of staph infection.

Many people develop a staph infection shortly after a hospital stay; some even while they are still in the hospital recovering from various procedures. It is not a reflection of improper practices on the part of the hospital or staff. They generally take all the sterilization precautions they can to prevent staph infection. However, staph can be waiting on the person's skin and make its entry at the point of an incision or other wound.

Precautions can be taken to help prevent the outbreak of staph infection. A daily shower and keeping clean linens available will help in its prevention; as will the frequent washing of hands. This will ensure it is as safe as possible, but in the event of an injury, it is no guarantee.

Once an injury is sustained, there are some further precautionary procedures to perform. Always wash the wound well with soap and water. Then dry the area thoroughly. Apply topical anti biotic cream directly on the wound and place a bandage over it. Change the bandage several times a day to help keep the affected area dry and clean. Each time the bandage is replaced, also reapply the antibiotic ointment. This will help keep the area clean and free from infection.

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