Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous of staphylococcal bacterial infections, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. S. aureus is commonly found in the nose or on a person's skin, and carriers have the bacteria but do not display symptoms. Individuals who are likely to carry the bacteria include those with repeatedly punctured skin from injections, those treated on dialysis machines or those with open skin infections. Active staph infection can become life-threatening and is caused by different forms of contact with the bacteria.
Contaminated Food
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, S. aureus is salt and heat tolerant, making salty food a breeding ground for the germ to multiply. The more abundant the bacteria, the more toxins produced. Toxins from staph-contaminated food cause food poisoning with symptoms appearing in as little as 30 minutes after exposure. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are common signs of food-related staph contamination. This form of staph is not contagious from person to person once the contaminated food is ingested.
Entry Through Broken Skin
Staphylococcus aureus carriers can develop an infection once the skin is broken. This creates a pathway for the bacteria to infect the tissues under the top layer of the skin. The mucous membranes of the skin serve as protective barriers against staph infection. However, damage to the membrane allows contamination inside the body. The Minnesota Department of Health notes that the presence of an abscess or cellulitis at the site of punctured skin indicates potential staph infection. Abscess symptoms appear as swollen and pus-filled pockets near the site of broken skin, and cellulitis is signified by visible swelling and pain at the infection location. Staph from broken skin can contaminate others.
Entry Into Bloodstream
Bacteremia, or blood poisoning, may occur when S. aureus enters the bloodstream. MayoClinic.com explains this typically occurs in people with compromised immune systems due to having other medical conditions. If a staph carrier obtains a skin abrasion and is also sick with an autoimmune medical disorder, the individual is more susceptible to staph bacteria traveling deep within the body. Bacteremia is a serious form of staph infection and can infect any organ. Individuals with compromised immune systems who are not carriers can also contract staph bacteria through contact with contaminated objects such as linens or others with staph-contaminated skin.
Medical Exposure
MayoClinic.com indicates that staph bacteria are in wide abundance in hospital settings. Use of invasive medical devices, such as catheters, breathing intubation machines or feeding tubes that are contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, can cause staph infection. Individuals in a hospital recovering from external wounds or those with weakened immune systems are more likely to contract medical-device-contaminated staph infection.
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