Does stress promote a staph infection?

Question

I had a staph infection on my neck in April and recently developed another one on my stomach. It is nearly cleared up, but now I'm developing another one on my leg. Everyone at work is saying it is because I am stressed out that I keep getting them. I am a first grade teacher and the class I have this year is my worst yet. I've had 23 instances of new students or children moving. Of 20 students, only 6 have been with me the entire year. It is also close to the end of the school year so I have a lot of paper work to deal with, I'm getting married next month and having family and financial issues. Could all this be causing me to get staph infections? I've never had them before. Thanks for you help!

Answer 1

No, or at least it is very unlikely. You're probably getting recurrent infections because you're colonized with staph and it can be a pain to get rid of, even with the right antibiotics. In my opinion, your stress has nothing to do with it.

Staph infections are common organisms found on the skin, and are often associated with cellulitis and other skin and soft tissue infections such as impetigo. Often times we can become "colonized" with staph thus making it difficult to entirely clear it from our bodies... it's always "hanging" around and if you have any degree of trauma to your skin you could potentially get another infection.

You should go to a doctor and make certain that you have the infected area swabbed if you haven't already done so. That way, you (a) know that it really *is* staph, and (b) you ensure that you don't have the so-called MRSA, which is an increasingly common strain of staph that is resistant to many antibiotics. It is being found more and more in the community. Once the cultures come back and you know what bug it is and which drugs to use to kill it, your doctor can write you a prescription.

Good luck!

Answer 2

From my knowledge of staph infections stress has no matter in the infection. From my science classes that I've taken, I've learned staph infections are bacterial infections from a specific class of microorganisms. I did also learn from these classes that these bacteria are literally everywhere, I mean a classmate of mine found Staphylococcus aureus on the soap dispenser of one of the bathrooms in our school. So there can be many reasons to the staph infections. Mainly I would try to stay as clean as possible, washing hands ect. to make sure you don't become infected.

Answer 3

Stress doesn't CAUSE infections, but weakens your immunities, thus allowing infections(colds, flues, and more) to spread more easily. Staff infections are harder to eliminate than other infections, so be patient, and stay in touch with your doctor.

Some things you can do to help yourself, both over time, and in the immediate sense are:
Yoga
Meditation
Deep breathing (take a deep breath in, hold it for 2 to 3 seconds, let it out slowly through pursed lips)
Get extra sleep
Let others do as much as they can for your wedding plans
Don't do things you know will cause you more stress
Tell yourself how capable you are, that these conditions are not weakening you (positive affirmations.)

Answer 4

Whether or not you breast feed is completely up to you. You can breastfeed for just the first week so the baby gets the collostrum which really helps build their immune system and switching to the bottle may be a little easier if your little one is not so dependant upon the breast. I breast fed until my son was about 3 months old and then I stopped for my own reasons. Yes breast milk is the most nutrious thing for a baby but sometimes its just not easy to do for the mom or not the best situation for the mother and child. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for bottle feeding your baby. Each mother is different. Congratulations on your little one