Staph Infections
Staph infections, caused by Staphylococcus Aureus, is most likely the most common bacteria to affect infectious disease in the history of mankind.
Staph Aureus is a common, benign, human skin colonizing bacteria. Problems arise when the skin, the body’s natural “defense,” is compromised by a cut, scrape, or a deep wound. Once it infiltrates below the skin, it can cause local or disseminated infection. This doesn’t happen in all cases, as many cuts and lacerations have no complications at all. It only happens when the body’s defenses are unable to fight off infection.
At Encompass Healthcare, we treat staph infections (and MRSA) in our outpatient setting. Patients get their treatment, safely, and then go back to work, go home, or just get on with their day.
Symptoms of Staph Infections
The symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.
• Fever, chills, redness, and swelling are typical of inflammation due to the staph infection.
• Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include boils, a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen. Boils occur most often under the arms, around the groin or the buttocks.
• Cellulitis: an infection of the deeper layers of skin, causes skin redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores (ulcers) or areas of oozing discharge may develop, too. Cellulitis occurs most often in the lower legs and feet.
• Osteomyelitis of the vertebra or long bones.
• Endocarditis.
• Meningitis and brain abscess.
• Pneumonia and lung abscess.
• Surgical site infection.
People at Risk for Staph Infections
Anyone with skin can develop a staph infection. People are at greater risk who have lymphedema, venous insufficiency, athlete’s foot, or just about any deformation or breach to normal skin integrity.
At Encompass Healthcare, we treat staph infections (and MRSA) in our outpatient setting. Patients get their treatment, safely, and then go back to work, go home, or just get on with their day.