What is Staph?
Staphylococcus, or staph, is a group of infectious bacteria which can cause a variety of conditions ranging from skin rashes to abscesses. Staph is actually an extremely common bacteria, living on the surface of all human skin, but it will take advantage of vulnerability in the skin to enter the body, causing infection and discomfort. Staph infections are usually treated with applications of antibiotics, and in most cases are relatively easy to eradicate. Common infections which are the result of staph include impetigo, an unsightly infection common around the nose and mouth which causes blisters, boils, and scabs. Infections of the hair follicle can result in sties, boils, and folliculitis, all characterized by painful red bumps in the skin. Staph also commonly infests the skin to create an abscess, a pus-filled wound which is hot and painful to the touch. Staph is also the culprit responsible for Toxic Shock Syndrome, an infection of the blood stream which can be fatal. Staph can cau
“Everyone has staph on their skin, but some of us have staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics,” says Mary Tola, a nurse practitioner at Brady Health Center. “There are two types of MRSA, hospital-acquired and community associated. Hospital-acquired is a lot more difficult to treat. A number of people are dying nationwide with staph, but they are mainly cases of hospital-acquired.” According to the Mecklenburg County Health Department, MRSA, also known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is “a type of skin infection caused by staph bacteria that is resistant to some common antibiotics such as penicillin.” (www.meckhealth.org) Staph can cause abscesses and boils, and starts out as red pimples that develop pus drainage. According to the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services, “Staph/MRSA is often misdiagnosed as spider bites. Symptoms of a Staph/MRSA infection include: Redness Warmth Swelling Pus Tenderness of the skin Pimples Boils or blisters www.lapubli
