Staphylococcus is more commonly called "staph." According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the staph virus is present in nasal passages, but doesn't cause the virus in approximately 25 to 30 percent of the population. In fact, staph is the most common skin infection in the United States. However, the problems it can cause go beyond the skin. The staph virus can affect the heart, lungs, blood and other organs. The treatment you will receive for the infection depends upon the variation of the staph virus you have, as well as the location of the infection and the severity of it. Receiving prompt medical care if you think you have staph is vital to recovery.
Prevention
Following standard hygiene practices is the best way to minimize the risk of a staph infection. These practices include washing your hands thoroughly, using only your own razors, towels and other personal hygiene items, and covering cuts and other skin blemishes. Health care workers and personal care technicians should take the extra preventative measure of wearing disposable gloves when caring for a person with open wounds and/or when coming into contact with bodily fluids.
Types
The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that there are actually over 30 known variations of the staphylococcus virus; however, the most common is staphylococcus aureus. The Mayo Clinic lists five types of staph infection related to staphylococcus aureus: food poisoning, skin infections, septic arthritis, toxic shock syndrome and bacteremia. The most common of these infections is skin infection.
Symptoms
Staph infections can cause a variety of symptoms. Staph-related food poisoning is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms, which include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps, often one to six hours after the contaminated food is consumed. The skin infection starts out with a similar appearance to a boil or pimple. The area is usually red and very painful. Sometimes it is hot to the touch. Septic arthritis can cause extreme chills, severe joint pain and swelling, and a fever. Toxic shock syndrome is characterized by fever, confusion, seizures, muscle aches, a sunburn-looking rash on your hands and the bottom of your feet, nausea and, in some cases, vomiting. Bacteremia is a form of blood poisoning that may produce only a persistent fever.
