staph infection - Infectious Diseases Message Board

kcwnl · 08-16-2003, 02:06 PM

What is staph infection and what is the treatment for it?
A friend has bleeding or oozing sores at any parts of her body for the last 4 or five years. She is going to see a infectious disease doctor, but I wonder if there is anyting else she could be doing.

Thanks

projapoti · 08-16-2003, 05:33 PM

A staph infection is a short form for the organism that is called Staphylococcus aureus (or sometimes epidermis) which is a very common "gram positive" organism. Normally, it is around and doesn't affect you, but if it gets in to a cut and infects it, it can actually be pretty nasty. Staph can be both really easy to treat, but can be difficult at times. You may have heard the term "methicillin resistant staph aureus" or MRSA...this is the nightmare of doctors as this critter is resistant to pretty much all the medications that we have currently. Fortunately, it's not that common.

Usually, a drug like naficillin, cefazolin or clindamycin will take away infections with staph. I think it's a great idea that you're going to an ID specialist if the problem is persisting.

kcwnl · 08-17-2003, 10:57 AM

Thank you for the valuable information. I did pass it on. How contagious is this infection? Could I get it if I had a hang nail? She has to dab her sores sometimes and throws the tissue in the trash can. Is this okay?

She has been seeing a GP all these years and it hasn't improved. Does this mean she has the MRSA variety? Is her health at danger?

I know this sounds like I am talking about myself, but it really is for a friend who I am concerned about.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Caroline

projapoti · 08-17-2003, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kcwnl:
Thank you for the valuable information. I did pass it on. How contagious is this infection? Could I get it if I had a hang nail? She has to dab her sores sometimes and throws the tissue in the trash can. Is this okay?

It can be contagious if broken skin touches one of her sores. A hangnail though? Probably not.

Quote:

She has been seeing a GP all these years and it hasn't improved. Does this mean she has the MRSA variety? Is her health at danger?

Nonononononononono!!!! MRSA is a very serious systemic infection--not just the skin. Rather than her having a certain type of staph, it's more likely there's some kind of deficiency in her immune system that is causing her to get chronic infections with staph.

Is her health in danger? No....not unless she starts having a systemic infection (i.e. affecting more than just her skin...her entire body)

kcwnl · 08-17-2003, 01:04 PM

Thanks again, Projapoti.

Do you know of any herbal or alternative treatments for her skin infections?