Staphylococcus

One sometimes finds what one is not looking for - Sir Alexander Fleming

Staphylococcus

image by: University of Western Australia

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A Medieval Recipe Could Kill Hospital Superbugs. No, Really

Staph infections are one of the most pervasive and annoying bacterial infections faced by hospitals every year. It infects half a million people in the US every year, with symptoms ranging from skin infections to heart problems — and worse, some strains (commonly known as MRSA) have evolved to resist common antibiotics.

As it turns out, medieval communities also faced staph — in particular, with staph causing eye sores called styes. Our ancestors had an old-timey cure, too, written in Old English in Bald's Leechbook:

Take cropleek and garlic, of both equal quantities, pound them well together, take wine and bullocks’ gall, of both equal quantities, mix with the leek,…

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 A Medieval Recipe Could Kill Hospital Superbugs. No, Really

Staph infections are one of the most pervasive and annoying bacterial infections faced by hospitals every year. It infects half a million people in the US every year, with symptoms ranging from skin infections to heart problems — and worse, some strains (commonly known as MRSA) have evolved to resist common antibiotics.

Staph Infection Resources

Whether you have Staph or MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or just looking for answers to questions, you have come to the right place for more education on this topic.

Impetigo

Impetigo is contagious. It can spread to anyone who comes into contact with infected skin or other items (such as clothing, towels, and bed linens) that have been touched by infected skin. And because impetigo may itch, kids can spread the infection by scratching it and then touching other parts of their body.

MRSA

MRSA should be a top political priority in the United States and globally - Jeanine Thomas, founder, MRSA Survivors Network

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

Children with severe SSSS (>50% body surface area) may need to be transferred to a tertiary paediatric burn unit for multidisciplinary care in an intensive care environment.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome is a severe illness associated with group A Streptococcus (GAS or Streptococcus pyogenes); this bacterium produces a toxin termed TSS toxin-1 (TSST-1). TSS was first described in 1978 in children, but subsequent reports identified TSS outbreaks in women and were associated with tampon use.

FoodSafety.gov

Staphylococcus can cause food poisoning when a food handler contaminates food and then the food is not properly refrigerated. Other sources of food contamination include the equipment and surfaces on which food is prepared. These bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature to produce a toxin that causes illness. Staphylococcus is killed by cooking and pasteurization.

GlobalRPh.com

The choice of an agent should be based on local antimicrobial sensitivities, site of infection, cost, and comorbid conditions.

KidsHealth

The staph family of bacteria has more than 30 species, which can cause different kinds of illnesses. For example, one kind of staph can cause urinary tract infections. But most staph infections are caused by the species Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). S. aureus most commonly causes skin infections like folliculitis, boils, impetigo, and cellulitis that are limited to a small area of a person's skin. S. aureus can also release toxins (poisons) that may lead to illnesses like food poisoning or toxic shock syndrome.

MedicineNet

Staph infections may cause disease due to direct infection or due to the production of toxins by the bacteria. Boils, impetigo, food poisoning, cellulitis, and toxic shock syndrome are all examples of diseases that can be caused by Staphylococcus.

NHS

Staph bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, from relatively minor skin infections such as boils, to more serious infections of the blood, lungs and heart. There are many types of Staphylococci, but most infections are caused by a group called Staphylococcus aureus. This group of bacteria includes meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to certain antibiotics that are commonly used for staph infections, such as flucloxacillin.

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