Staph Infection Treatment: Common Types of Staph Infections & Their Treatments

Staph Infection Treatment: Common Types of Staph Infections & Their Treatments
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Staph infection treatment depends on the type of infection. A “staph infection” or “staff infection” can mean any infection of the common bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, a round, gram-positive bacterium that forms grapelike clusters visible under the microscope, but most often refers to skin infections. Staph bacteria are found on the skin in many healthy people, who are said to be “colonized.” When the bacteria move into an open wound or other tissue and begin multiplying, the result is a staph skin infection.

Types of Staph Infections Needing Treatment

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin, often caused by Staphylococcus. The affected area may start out itchy and red, then become painful and swollen. Fever and nausea may be present.

Folliculitis is the infection of hair follicles. It results in small whiteheads around the bases of hairs. Untreated, it can progress into boils (raised bumps of pus) or abscesses (walled-off collections of pus) that have the potential to become serious.

Impetigo is a staph infection on the skin that causes weeping blisters. Impetigo most often affects children, especially in the summer.

Scalded skin syndrome (SSS) is a serious complication of a staph infection of the skin. Found most often in newborns, it results in a rash all over the body, caused by a toxin produced by the staph bacteria. SSS leaves the skin appearing to be burned.

Staph Infection Treatment

Staph infection treatment for mild cases starts with keeping the affected area clean. Towels, linens, and clothing that touches the affected area should be sanitized by machine washing on the “hot” setting. For superficial skin infections, antibacterial ointment or cream should be used. The affected area should be kept covered with a bandage if possible to prevent spreading the bacteria and to keep foreign particles out.

Oral antibiotics may be prescribed for a staph infection. About 90% of staph bacteria are resistant to penicillin antibiotics, so stronger drugs are usually used. The full course of antibiotics must be completed even if the infection appears to go away. Otherwise, the infection may return, and may be more resistant to drug treatment.

Superficial abscesses may not be treated with antibiotics at all; instead, the abscess is carefully lanced and drained, then kept clean to prevent reinfection. Staph infection treatment for SSS and other serious infections may require hospitalization. The burn-like injuries of SSS require close monitoring.

MRSA Infection Treatment

Some strains of staph are “superbugs” that are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics; these are commonly called MRSA (pronounced “mersa”), or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These strains will not respond to the most common oral antibiotics. If the infection is severe enough to warrant it, doctors may use vancomycin. Exposure to an antibiotic gives bacteria an opportunity to evolve resistance, so doctors usually will not use vancomycin unless it is absolutely necessary.

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