More than a quarter of the United States population is a carrier of staphylococcus bacteria, which causes staph infections. Staph infections can range from very mild to life-threatening, which is why it is important to pay attention to key symptoms and know when you should seek medical attention. Here are some terms related to the condition that you should be familiar with.
- Staphylococcus bacteria: This is a type of bacteria that is commonly found on the skin and inside of the nose of many healthy individuals. Though this is the type of bacteria that causes staph infections, most of the time, these bacteria cause relatively minor skin infections or no problems at all.
- Boil: Boils are the most common type of staph skin infection, and they form from an infected hair follicle or oil gland, usually under the arms or around the buttocks or groin. Boils develop as a pocket of pus and the skin around the infection is usually swollen and red. If this is the type of staph you have, your doctor will likely have to break open the boil and drain the pus out of it.
- Impetigo: This form of staph is a very painful, highly contagious rash that features large, fluid-filled blisters with a honey-colored crust.
- Cellulitis: This is a staph infection that develops in the deeper layers of the skin and may cause swelling and redness on the surface of the skin. Also, ulcers may develop that ooze some form of discharge. Cellulitis is most common in the feet and lower legs.
- Scalded skin syndrome: Newborns and young children are most often affected by scalded skin syndrome, which develops as a result of the toxins that are produced during a staph infection. It causes fever and appears as a rash with blisters that may break open and peel the top layer of skin off leaving a raw, red surface that resembles a burn.
- Bacteremia: This is a condition that is also known as blood poisoning and it occurs when staph bacteria enters your blood stream. This condition is marked by symptoms such as low blood pressure and fever and it can be very dangerous if the bacteria uses your bloodstream to travel to places such as your brain, heart, or lungs.
- Toxic shock syndrome: This is a life-threatening condition that is a result of toxins that are produced by some strains of staph bacteria. Toxic shock is most commonly linked to the use of certain types of tampons, surgery, and open skin wounds.
- Septic arthritis: This is a condition that is often caused by a staph infection in your knees or other joints, such as your ankles, wrists, hips, spine, or shoulders.
- Sepsis: If bacteremia occurs and staph enters your bloodstream, you could develop a type of infection that spreads throughout your entire body. This dangerous complication is called sepsis and can lead to septic shock, which leads to a life-threateningly low blood pressure.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Most staph infections are treated with antibiotics. However, there is a recent emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of staph bacteria called MRSA. This means that the DNA of the bacteria has mutated and antibiotics are no longer effective at killing it. Because of this, alternative antibiotics have been developed that have to be administered intravenously and have potentially more side effects.
