All You Need to Know About Staph

There are many different types and occurrences of staph infections. Some scarier than others, and many different ways to treat and prevent them. We talked to Dr. Steve Buckingham, infectious disease physician at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital about what parents should know. Here's what he had to say.

"Staph" refers to Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that sometimes causes serious infections in humans. "MRSA" stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA strains are Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that are resistant to the penicillin class of antibiotics; but these bacteria are killed by numerous other antibiotics that are available today. "Impetigo" refers to a type of superficial skin infection that can be caused by either Staphylococcus or by Streptococcus ("strep"?a completely different type of bacteria).

What causes it?
Staph is one of many types of bacteria that can normally live on the skin and outer surfaces of healthy people. Usually, these bacteria do not cause any problems for most people. Occasionally, these bacteria can cause infections of the skin or other superficial tissue, for example, when a wound is contaminated with bacteria. Rarely, they move into the deeper tissues of the body causing infections in the blood, lungs or other organs.

Is it most common among boys and in locker rooms?
There have been well-documented epidemics of MRSA skin infections among athletic teams, including some involving football players. One notable outbreak involved members of the St. Louis Rams football team in 2003. But overall, staph skin infections, including those caused by MRSA, occur about as often in boys as in girls. And many patients with staphylococcal skin infections have never been near a locker room.

Does it always originate in a wound?
Staph skin infections, including those caused by MRSA, can occur when a wound gets contaminated with bacteria. But these infections can also occur in skin that has not been apparently injured. And on rare occasions, staphylococcal infections occur in the lungs (i.e., pneumonia) or other internal organs of the body, without infecting the skin at all.

What are the signs that there could be a problem with the wound?
If the skin surrounding a wound becomes unusually red, or painful, or if pus begins to come out of the wound, these could be signs of a developing skin infection. If symptoms such as these occur, the wound should be promptly examined by a health care provider.

Are there specific ways to prevent it from happening?
At present, there is no vaccine available to prevent staphylococcal infections. The best strategy for preventing these infections is to practice good hygiene. According to the CDC, hygienic measures that may reduce the risk of staphylococcal skin infections include keeping hands clean (either by washing with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed, avoiding contact with the wounds or bandages of other people and avoiding sharing of personal items such as towels or razors. It is important to note that infections can occur even in patients with ideal hygienic practices.

Can it be life threatening?
In rare cases, staph can produce severe, life-threatening infections. In most patients, however, staphylococcal infections do not spread beyond the skin and are not life threatening. Even so, some of these infections require antibiotic therapy or surgical drainage to achieve a cure. Thus, patients with suspected skin infections should be promptly evaluated by a health care provider.

What are the courses of treatment?
Many skin infections, such as boils will resolve on their own, without a need for antibiotic therapy. Some types of skin infections will require therapy in a topical or antibiotic form for several days. In some cases, surgical intervention is needed to achieve a cure. Several different antibiotics are available to treat staphylococcal infections, including those caused by MRSA. The optimal type and course of treatment for a given patient depends on the type of infection being treated, the severity of the infection, and the prevalence of MRSA in the local community.