what is a staph infection?

Answer 1

Staph (pronounced "staff") is medical quick speak for staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This pesky little bacterium is very common (many people have some living on their skin all the time), but when it enters the human body, usually through an open cut or break in the skin, it can cause infection and trouble anywhere in the body. Staph infections tend to be pus-producing. Common minor (or relatively minor) skin infections caused by staph include:

Folliculitis
Infections of hair follicles that cause itchy white pus-filled bumps on the skin (often where people shave or have irritations from skin rubbing against clothes)

Boils
Infections deeper within hair follicles that leave large, frequently red inflammations (often occur on the face or neck)

Styes
Infection of the follicle surrounding the eyelashes, causing a sore red bump in the eyelid

Impetigo
The infection kids often get around their mouths and noses that causes blisters and red scabby skin

Abscesses
Infection characterized by pus and swelling that can occur in the skin and in any other organ.

Answer 2

Symptoms of MRSA will vary. This is dependant upon which area of the body is affected with the mrsa or staph infection.

The most common symptom of MRSA presents as a skin infection. Very often this appears as an abscess or perhaps a boil. Many look like a spider bite. If MRSA has infected a surgical or accidental wound, the symptom of the surrounding area would be painful and red in colour with swelling and pus.

Urinary tract infections and bacteraemia (blood poisoning) can also be caused by MRSA infection. One of the worst infections is when staph bacteria enter the lungs and cause pneumonia. The symptom of this infection are normally a high fever and difficulty in breathing.

Staph infection can in certain cases, result what people call a "flesh eating bug" type of bacterium being developed. These bacterium are called "necrotizing fasciitis" but are very rare. "Flesh eating bacterium" however, is not correct. The bacterium do not actually consume the tissue. They actually cause the destruction of skin and muscle by releasing toxins (virulence factors). These include streptococcal pyogenic exotoxins and other virulence factors. S. pyogenes produces an exotoxin known as a superantigen. This toxin is capable of activating T-cells non-specifically. This causes the overproduction of cytokines that over-stimulate macrophages. The macrophages cause the actual tissue damage by releasing oxygen free radicals.

Staphylococcus aureus has been rapidly spreading world-wide and certain strains have become drug resistant to many antibiotics. This seems on course to become an even greater problem in the future. Some researchers and reporters have suggested an enormous growth in the next few years, as medications become more difficult to find.

MRSA symptoms can vary and are usually spread by contact with contaminated items or people. Dependant upon the strain, some are fully treatable while others may cause concern to life. Hospitals, Gymnasiums, Care Homes, Nursing Homes, in fact, anywhere where contact may be shared with other people or items, are the most likely places to contract a staph infection

MRSA and its resistance to over used antibiotics, makes it a serious and sometimes very difficult to treat problem, especially in people who have a weakened immune system.

MRSA is now resistant to these antibiotics;

Methicillin
Amoxicillin
Penicillin
Oxacillin

This is dependent upon strain but Staph aureus is very adaptive to forming new resistance to any antibiotic.

Many people are reporting that sulfameth/trimethoprim 800/160 is being prescribed by many Doctors to treat the symptoms of MRSA. Unfortunately, this drug has many bad side effects. It can cause fatigue, withdrawal, loss of appetite, soreness in joints, headaches and stomach sickness.

As with all drugs, the side-effects can actually cause more problems and contribute to the resistance level of the bacteria, where the treatment is discontinued because of disabilitating side effects.

The New Silver Solution has no toxicity and no known side effects. It is also a fact that no bacterium has ever been recorded in having or developing a resistance to a metallic mineral element.

More Information here: http://www.mrsamedical.com/

Answer 3

So what is Staphylococcus?
Staph infection is caused by a bacterium called Staphylococcus. There are different types ranging from simple boils to flesh-eating infections. The most common type of infection, cellulitis, affects the skin’s deeper layers. It might begin as a small area of inflammation – tenderness, swelling, or redness on the skin’s surface, or as an open skin sore or ulcer. This type of infection is usually treatable with antibiotics. Over the years, the bacteria, identified as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have grown increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Due to the highly contagious nature of MRSA, hospitals have been a breeding ground:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health care-associated infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year in American hospitals.
Hospitals are particularly concerned about containing the spread of infections by drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA. Several hospitals nationwide will start testing arriving patients for MRSA, in an attempt to isolate the infection and lower infection rates.

To search for more information on staph infection, visit www.healia.com.

Answer 4

an infection caused by staphlococcus bacteria. there are alot of different staphs, not all cause infection. MRSA (methicillin-resistant staph aureus) is the big problem these days, it is a bacteria that is resistant to the hardcore antibiotics, and people get isolated in the hospital when they have it.
antibiotic resistance is caused by people that don't finish their antibiotics when they are prescribed, which makes bacteria weak but doesn't kill it, it just gets stronger and learns how to protect itself from the antibiotics.

staph that is on the skin is called staph epidermis, and is NOT the same as staph aureus or other types of staph.

Answer 5

staph, or staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria, it generally lives on our skin without any trouble at all, but, if you get a wound, and the staph gets into that wound, it over grows and becomes a staph infection. That is why it is important to keep any sores or wounds clean and covered with a bandage.

Answer 6

It is an infection usually associated with an open wound or most often after surgeries.

Answer 7

What Is a Staph Infection?
Staph is the shortened name for Staphylococcus (pronounced: staf-uh-low-kah-kus), a type of bacteria. These bacteria can live harmlessly on many skin surfaces, especially around the nose, mouth, genitals, and anus. But when the skin is punctured or broken for any reason, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.

There are more than 30 species in the staph family of bacteria, and they can cause different kinds of illnesses — for example, one kind of staph can cause urinary tract infections. But most staph infections are caused by the species Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

S. aureus most commonly causes skin infections like folliculitis, boils, impetigo, and cellulitis that are limited to a small area of a person's skin. S. aureus can also release toxins (poisons) that may lead to illnesses like food poisoning or toxic shock syndrome.

How Do People Get Staph Infections?
In teens, most staph infections are minor skin infections. People with skin problems like burns or eczema may be more likely to get staph skin infections.

People can get staph infections from contaminated objects, but staph bacteria often spread through skin-to-skin contact — the bacteria can be spread from one area of the body to another if someone touches the infected area.

Staph infections can spread from person to person among those who live close together in group situations (such as in college dorms). Usually this happens when people with skin infections share things like bed linens, towels, or clothing. Warm, humid environments can contribute to staph infections, so excessive sweating can increase someone's chances of developing an infection.

Although it's very rare, infections caused by S. aureus can occasionally become serious. This happens when the bacteria move from a break in the skin into the bloodstream. This can lead to infections in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones, joints, heart, blood, and central nervous system.

Staph infections in other parts of the body are less common than staph skin infections. They are more likely in people whose immune systems have been weakened by another disease.

Occasionally patients undergoing surgery may get these more serious types of staph infections. The good news is that hospital staff take many precautions to avoid infection in someone having surgery. That's why they carefully clean the area being operated on, use sterile equipment, and sometimes give a person antibiotics.

What Are the Signs of a Staph Skin Infection?
Staph skin infections show up in lots of different ways. Some of the more common conditions often caused by S. aureus skin infections are:

Folliculitis (pronounced: fuh-lih-kyoo-lie-tus) is an infection of the hair follicles, the tiny pockets under the skin where hair shafts (strands) grow. In folliculitis, tiny white-headed pimples appear at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple. This occurs often where people shave or have irritated skin from rubbing against clothing.
A furuncle (pronounced: fyoor-un-kul), commonly known as a boil, is a swollen, red, painful lump in the skin, usually due to an infected hair follicle. The lump usually fills with pus, growing larger and more painful until it ruptures and drains. Furuncles are most frequently found on the face, neck, buttocks, armpits, and inner thighs, where small hairs can often be irritated. A cluster of several furuncles is called a carbuncle (pronounced: kar-bun-kul). A person with a carbuncle usually feels ill and feverish.
Impetigo (pronounced: im-puh-tie-go) is a superficial skin infection that mostly happens in young children, but it can sometimes affect teens and adults. Most impetigo infections affect the face or extremities like the hands and feet. An impetigo skin infection begins as a tender, red bump that turns into a small blister or pimple, and then develops a honey-colored crust. Impetigo doesn't usually cause pain or fever, although the blisters may itch and can be spread to other parts of the body by scratching.
Cellulitis (pronounced: sell-yuh-lie-tus) is an infection involving areas of tissue below the skin surface. It begins as a small area of redness, pain, swelling, and warmth on the skin. As this area begins to spread, a person may feel feverish and ill. Cellulitis can affect any area of the body, but it's most common on the face or lower legs.
A hordeolum (pronounced: hore-dee-oh-lum), commonly known as a stye, is a staph infection in the eyelid. It develops when glands connected to the base of the eyelash become obstructed. A person with a stye will usually notice a red, warm, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful swelling near the edge of the eyelid.
Most of these staph infections are usually minor and can be treated at home by washing the skin with an antibacterial cleanser, applying an antibiotic ointment, and covering the skin with a clean dressing. (See below for specific treatment tips.)

If a minor infection gets worse — for example, you start feeling feverish or ill or the area spreads and gets very red or and hot — it's a good idea to see a doctor.


Wound infections generally show up 2 or more days after the injury or surgery. The signs of a wound infection (redness, pain, swelling, and warmth) are similar to those found in cellulitis. A wound infection may be accompanied by fever and a generally ill feeling. Pus or a cloudy fluid can drain from the wound and a yellow crust (like that in impetigo) can develop. If you think you have a wound infection after surgery, or you have a serious wound that seems to be infected, call your doctor.

Can I Prevent a Staph Skin Infection?
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are everywhere. Many healthy people carry staph bacteria without getting sick.

Cleanliness and good hygiene are the best way to protect yourself against getting staph (and other) infections. You can help prevent staph skin infections by washing your hands frequently and by bathing or showering daily.

Keep areas of skin that have been injured — such as cuts, scrapes, eczema, and rashes caused by allergic reactions or poison ivy — clean and covered, and use any antibiotic ointments or other treatments that your doctor suggests. If someone in your family has a staph infection, don't share towels, sheets, or clothing until the infection has been fully treated.

If you develop a staph infection, you can prevent spreading it to other parts of your body by being careful not to touch the infected skin, keeping it covered whenever possible, and using a towel only once when you clean the area (wash the towel in hot water afterwards or use disposable towels).

What Can I Do to Feel Better?
How long it takes for a staph skin infection to heal depends on the type of infection and whether a person gets treatment for it. A boil, for example, may take 10 to 20 days to heal without treatment, but treatment will speed up this process. Most styes, on the other hand, go away on their own within several days.

To help relieve pain from a skin infection, try soaking the skin in warm water or applying warm, moist washcloths to the area. You can also apply a heating pad or a hot water bottle to the skin for about 20 minutes, three or four times a day. Pain relievers like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) can help reduce pain until the infection subsides.

Styes can be treated using warm compresses over the eye (with the eye closed) three or four times a day. Occasionally, a stye will require a topical antibiotic. See your doctor if a stye doesn't go away in a few days.

If you get a staph infection on skin areas that you normally shave, avoid shaving, if possible, until the infection clears up. If you do have to shave the area, use a clean disposable razor or clean your electric razor after each use.

Staph infections can be a nuisance, but the good news is that they are usually not serious.