A bit about staph

A friend of mine got a staph infection in his elbow that laid him low for a while. Since I looked it up to find out about it I thought I would share what I found...




What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).


What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?

Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.


Who gets staph or MRSA infections?

Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.


What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)?

Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are know as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.\


How common are staph and MRSA infections?

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming more common in the community setting. Data from a prospective study in 2003, suggests that 12% of clinical MRSA infections are community-associated, but this varies by geographic region and population.


What does a staph or MRSA infection look like?

Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.


Are certain people at increased risk for community-associated staph or MRSA infections?

CDC has investigated clusters of CA-MRSA skin infections among athletes, military recruits, children, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, men who have sex with men, and prisoners.
Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.


How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?

Practice good hygiene:

1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.



Are people who are positive for the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) at increased risk for MRSA? Should they be taking special precautions?

People with weakened immune systems, which include some patients with HIV infection, may be at risk for more severe illness if they get infected with MRSA. People with HIV should follow the same prevention measures as those without HIV to prevent staph infections, including practice good hygiene, cover wounds (e.g., cuts or abrasions) with clean dry bandages, avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors, and contact their doctor if they think they have an infection.


Can I get a staph or MRSA infection at my health club?

In the outbreaks of MRSA, the environment has not played a significant role in the transmission of MRSA. MRSA is transmitted most frequently by direct skin-to-skin contact. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub and showering after working out); covering any open skin area such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoiding sharing personal items such as towels or razors; using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment; and wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use.


What should I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection?

See your healthcare provider.


Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?

Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.

However, many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider.

If after visiting your healthcare provider the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact them again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare provider.


Is it possible that my staph or MRSA skin infection will come back after it is cured?

Yes. It is possible to have a staph or MRSA skin infection come back (recur) after it is cured. To prevent this from happening, follow your healthcare provider’s directions while you have the infection, and follow the prevention steps after the infection is gone.


If I have a staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others from getting infected?

You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these steps:

1. Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph and MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash.
2. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound.
3. Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.
4. Talk to your doctor. Tell any healthcare providers who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.

What should I do if someone I know has a staph or MRSA infection?
If you know someone that has a staph or MRSA infection you should follow the prevention steps.

Great post Marx! It is getting widespread thoughout the country. I am not sure I posted here or another forum but my cousin has been battling it for 8 months now. He is a farmer in the midwest and it has take over his entire arm. He has been through orals and IV treatment with some resolution but not completely. I keep a bottle of antibacterial gel in my bag at the gym when training and use it when switching equipment. Just a precaution but nonetheless hopefully it will work in that environment. Doesn't protect me from the benches though.
Marty

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MIND+POWER=GROWTH

One additional recommendation, shower with Hibiclens (blue bottle on shelves at any pharmacy without a prescription especially in areas that you may have had a cut, abrasion, or break out (rash or acne). These are certainly access points for staph.

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MIND+POWER=GROWTH

I had mrsa, and let me tell you its not a good feeling, I got it when i used to work in a hospital. As for the treatment you get quarantined, and they shoot you up with a powerful ass antibiotic, it takes about 2 days for it to work, and 5 to be clear to go home. Def a fucked up situation! Just be careful out there, a great bro of mine suggested collidial silver, and i tell you that shit works!!!

I have had several infections of this sort. The first was caused by shaving my legs. I popped the little pimple like anyone would and within days I was in the hospital with 3 infections because I didnt know what it was at the time and must have touched other places and sread them. The one on my leg was so bad it turned into cellulitus and had to be lanced whle the other 2 were treated with antibiotics. These are the worst pain ever. My wife has also got them probably from me when I first got them and didnt know. Now we have been prone to getting them and have had several within a short period of time. The hospitals give the antibiotics for 2 weeks and it helps them to go away but has never fully killed the bacteria in us and we have ended up there several more times. I recently got one on my stomach and instead of spending anymore time and money at the hospital I went to my family doctor. He told me things to do that the hospital never even mentioned. Here are the steps he said to take and I am taking them now and will let you know if it works to get rid of them for good.

My doctor said that the bacteria is colonized in the nose as well as under the fingernails. So just rubbing your nose and touching somewhere you can spread the bacteria and possibly get an infection.

He also said that 2 weeks on the antibiotics is not enough to kill all the bacteria. He said that you need a full month of treatment to properly get rid of it.

He also said to put neosporin or a triple antibiotic ointment under your fingernails 3 times a day as well as up your nose for 3 times a day to keep from spreading the bacteria to other parts of your body.

He said the Bactrim is the best medicine to cure MRSA.

He said that if one person in a relationship has it then the other most likely does too and you should both go through the treatment together to keep from spreading the bacteria back from one to the other.



Hope this helps anyone that has this nasty bacteria.
DGAF

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DGAF

Good bro Grunt76 has the inside scoop on colloidal silver; good man to talk to about the stuff.

Agree since I started making my own Colloidal Silver I've been cold free for the past 6 months. I've never had a staph and pray to god I don't get one.