|
|
|
StaphAseptic™ News
Steering clear of summertime staph infections
June 23, 2009
By Dr. Anzhelika Zakharova
With the dog days of summer and warm-weather sports in full swing, it's important to pay special attention to cuts, bruises and rashes that occur along with the fun. Staph -- one of the most common skin infections in the United States -- is responsible for 12 million to 14 million doctors' visits each year.
Close contact with others, sports that involve skin-to-skin contact, and warm, humid environments are a fertile breeding ground for staph infections. Staph bacteria can live harmlessly on many skin surfaces, especially around the nose, mouth, genitals and anus.
In fact, without knowing it, 25 to 30 percent of people carry staph bacteria without being infected by it. But when the skin is punctured or broken for any reason, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.
A more serious, drug-resistant version of staph known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) can lead to dangerous, life-threatening infections. Both staph infections and MRSA are on the rise and health experts attribute the increase to improper hygiene and overuse of antibiotics, among other factors.
Most staph infections are minor and can be treated with oral antibiotics, however; others can be very serious and cause wound and bloodstream infections and pneumonia. MRSA can be more difficult to treat than most types of staph infection because it is sometimes resistant to some of the commonly used antibiotics.
A January 2009 study at Emory University in Atlanta provided the first nationwide report on how common staph and MRSA are in deeper tissue infections in the head and neck, including certain ear and sinus infections. The study found 21,009 staph-related pediatric head and neck infections from 2001 through 2006.
The percentage caused by hard-to-treat MRSA bacteria more than doubled during that time, from almost 12 percent to 28 percent. In this study, researchers found that almost 60 percent of the MRSA infections were thought to have been contracted outside a hospital setting.
Once confined primarily to hospitals and long-term care centers, MRSA is now showing up in the general population amongst those who have had no previous medical contact. This brand of infection is known as "community-acquired" MRSA (CA-MRSA).
MRSA infections are particularly common among young children, prison inmates, military recruits and high school, college and professional sports teams and other athletes who frequent health clubs - namely, individuals who are in close contact and have an opportunity to share contaminated personal items.
MRSA often starts as a small lesion, cut or boil that fails to heal, then gets progressively worse. MRSA can live on surfaces such as handrails, tabletops and skin. It can spread by skin contact or by sharing items such as pencils and sports equipment with an infected person.
One of the simplest -- and most effective -- prevention techniques is proper hand-washing. Washing hands with soap and warm water or using an alcohol-based hand rub, is key, especially after physical contact and before meals.
Keeping skin abrasions and wounds covered and avoiding contact with open wounds also helps prevent the spread of infection. You can also prevent infection by maintaining a clean environment by cleaning surfaces with anti-bacterial products. Sharing personal items such as clothes, towels or razors is not recommended, as infectious bacteria can spread on these surfaces.
MRSA is generally treatable, so it is important to know how to recognize an infection and get treatment. An infection on the skin's surface looks like a pimple or boil that can be red or painful. It might progress to a point where the area appears to be full of pus and must be drained. These can progress into deep, painful abscesses.
Seek medical attention immediately if skin symptoms last longer or are more painful than common bug bites. Internal MRSA infections can result in pneumonia, bloodstream infections or extension of wound infections; common symptoms include shortness of breath, fever and chills.
Seek medical attention any time your experience a fever of more than 104 degrees as an adult, or when an infant experiences a fever of more than 100.4 degrees.
Because medical practitioners may not immediately recognize an infection is caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it's important to seek medical attention if prescribed antibiotics have no effect after four days.
Dr. Anzhelika Zakharova recently joined the medical staff at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, department of family medicine. She is a graduate of Volgograd Medical Academy, Volgograd, Russia. A family medicine residency program was completed at Lancaster General Hospital. Zakharova is in practice with Berks Family Care, 193 Old Swede Road, Douglassville
http://www.pottsmerc.com
|
|
|
