Staphylococcus is a term for a group of bacterial diseases that result in severe infections of tissues in the body. Dermatologic staph infections are diseases and infections of the tissues of the skin. Staph infection is most commonly acquired at hospitals and other health care facilities; however, the bacteria can be acquired by anyone and anywhere in the general public.
Types
Dermatologic staph infections are most commonly found on the nose and the skin. These types of infections are found in 20-30 percent of adults.
Symptoms
Symptoms of dermatologic staph infections are pus found on or around an infected area that may be red or swollen and quite painful. It is not uncommon to experience drainage of the pus. Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, groin and neck are also symptoms of staph infection.
In young children and infants both peeling and blistering skin are symptoms of staph infection.
Diseases Caused
Dermatologic staph infections can lead to other serious diseases of the skin. Some of these skin diseases are impetigo, cellulitis, scalded skin syndrome and mastitis. Impetigo is skin crusting over; cellulitis occurs when the tissue under the skin becomes inflamed and leads to severe swelling and redness; scalded skin syndrome is a more severe form of cellulitis; and women who are breast feeding and are experiencing dermatologic staph infection can result in mastitis, which is an inflammation of the breast. Mastitis can also lead to bacteria in the milk.
Who Does Staph Affect?
While anyone can contract it, people who are most at risk of contracting dermatologic staph infection are newborn infants, or people with skin injuries,recent surgical incisions, weak immune systems, chronic illness such as diabetes and lung disease and breastfeeding women.
Prevention/Solution
Ways to prevent contracting dermatologic staph infection are by washing hands frequently, especially after accessing high-traffic areas like public transportation.
Tags: staph infections, Dermatologic staph infections, staph infection, contracting dermatologic, contracting dermatologic staph
