What is Staph Infections?

Staph infections typically starts as a mild skin infection but beware, it can be deadly. It is now a growing problem in Hospitals in US.

Some diseases caused by Staph

The usual problem caused by Staph Infections is it progresses to Impetigo or Cellulitis. In some cases, it can develop to a serious complication like the scalded skin syndrome. It may even result in inflammation of the breast, in breastfeeding women, called mastitis.

How are Staph infections diagnosed?

In minor skin infections, Staphylococcal infections are usually diagnosed by their appearance without the need for laboratory testing. More serious staph infections such as infection of the bloodstream, pneumonia, and endocarditis require culturing of samples of blood or infected fluids. Special tests are made to determine which antibiotics are effective against the bacteria.

Staph infections treatment

For Minor skin infections, it is usually treated with an antibiotic ointment but there are some cases that oral antibiotics may be given. If abscesses are present, they are surgically drained. For more serious and life-threatening infections, it is treated with intravenous antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic depends on the susceptibility of the staph strains as determined by culture results in the laboratory. Staph strains, such as MRSA are resistant to many antibiotics.