What are the symptoms of staph infections on legs. How are staph infections caused. What are the different types of staph skin infections. When should you seek medical attention for a staph rash.

What is a Staph Infection?

Staphylococcus bacteria, commonly known as staph, are a group of germs frequently found on human skin and in the nasal passages of healthy individuals. While these bacteria often coexist harmlessly with their human hosts, they can sometimes cause infections ranging from minor skin issues to severe, life-threatening conditions.

Staph infections occur when these bacteria penetrate the skin’s protective barrier or enter deeper tissues. The severity of the infection depends on various factors, including the specific strain of bacteria, the site of infection, and the overall health of the infected individual.

How Common are Staph Infections?

Staph infections are relatively common, particularly skin infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30% of people carry staph bacteria in their noses without developing an infection. However, when the conditions are right, these bacteria can cause a range of health problems.

Types of Staph Skin Infections

Staph bacteria can cause various skin infections, each with distinct characteristics and symptoms. Understanding these different types can help in early identification and prompt treatment.

• Boils
• Impetigo
• Cellulitis
• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

Boils: The Most Common Staph Skin Infection

Boils are the most frequently encountered type of staph skin infection. They typically appear as red, swollen bumps filled with pus. These painful lesions develop when a hair follicle or oil gland becomes infected. Boils often occur in areas where skin rubs against skin or where sweating is common, such as:

• Under the arms
• In the groin area
• On the buttocks

As a boil matures, it may rupture and drain pus. While this can be a sign of healing, it’s essential to handle the drainage carefully to prevent spreading the infection.

Impetigo: A Contagious Staph Rash

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that often affects children. It presents as red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and then form a yellowish-brown crust. These sores can be itchy and sometimes painful. Impetigo typically appears around the nose and mouth but can spread to other parts of the body, including the legs.

Cellulitis: Deep Skin Infection

Cellulitis is a more serious staph infection that affects the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissues. It causes the skin to become red, swollen, and tender to the touch. In some cases, blisters may form, and the affected area may feel warm. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body but is most common on the lower legs, arms, or face.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

This condition, primarily affecting infants and young children, is caused by toxins produced by certain staph bacteria. It results in a widespread, painful rash that looks like a burn, hence the name “scalded skin syndrome.” The top layer of skin can peel off in large sheets, leaving a raw, red surface underneath.

Symptoms of Staph Infections on Legs

Staph infections on the legs can manifest in various ways, depending on the type and severity of the infection. Common symptoms include:

• Red, swollen areas on the skin
• Pain or tenderness in the affected area
• Warm skin to the touch
• Pus-filled blisters or boils
• Fever (in more severe cases)
• Skin peeling or flaking (in certain types of infections)

It’s important to note that symptoms can vary widely between individuals and may progress rapidly in some cases.

Causes and Risk Factors of Staph Infections

Staph infections occur when Staphylococcus bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes. While many people carry these bacteria without incident, certain factors can increase the risk of developing an infection:

1. Skin injuries: Cuts, scrapes, or insect bites can provide an entry point for bacteria.
2. Weakened immune system: Conditions like HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or cancer can make individuals more susceptible to infections.
3. Close contact with infected individuals: Staph can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by sharing personal items.
4. Poor hygiene: Not washing hands regularly or maintaining clean living conditions can increase the risk of infection.
5. Hospitalization or medical procedures: Invasive procedures or prolonged hospital stays can expose individuals to antibiotic-resistant strains of staph.

How Does Staph Spread?

Staph bacteria can spread through various means:

• Direct contact with an infected person
• Contact with contaminated objects or surfaces
• Inhalation of infected respiratory droplets
• Consumption of contaminated food (in cases of staph food poisoning)

Understanding these transmission routes is crucial for preventing the spread of staph infections within communities and healthcare settings.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Staph Infections

Diagnosing a staph infection typically involves a physical examination and, in some cases, laboratory tests. Healthcare providers may take a sample of pus or tissue from the infected area to identify the specific type of bacteria causing the infection.

Treatment Options for Staph Infections

The treatment approach for staph infections depends on the severity and location of the infection. Common treatment options include:

• Topical antibiotics for minor skin infections
• Oral antibiotics for more extensive or systemic infections
• Incision and drainage for boils or abscesses
• Intravenous antibiotics for severe infections or those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains

In recent years, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant staph strains, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has complicated treatment strategies. These infections may require more potent antibiotics or alternative treatment approaches.

Prevention Strategies for Staph Infections

While it’s not always possible to prevent staph infections entirely, several measures can significantly reduce the risk:

1. Practice good hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
2. Keep wounds clean and covered: Properly clean and bandage any cuts, scrapes, or open wounds to prevent bacteria from entering.
3. Avoid sharing personal items: Don’t share towels, razors, or other personal care items that may come into contact with skin.
4. Maintain a clean environment: Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home or workspace.
5. Practice proper food handling: Cook foods thoroughly and store them at appropriate temperatures to prevent staph-related food poisoning.
6. Follow healthcare provider instructions: If you’re undergoing medical treatment or have a chronic condition, adhere to your healthcare provider’s recommendations for preventing infections.

Special Considerations for Athletes and Healthcare Workers

Certain groups, such as athletes and healthcare workers, may be at higher risk for staph infections due to their environments or frequent skin-to-skin contact. Additional prevention measures for these groups may include:

• Using antimicrobial soaps or washes
• Avoiding shared equipment or thoroughly cleaning shared items before use
• Wearing appropriate protective equipment
• Following strict hygiene protocols in healthcare settings

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Staph Rash

While many staph infections can be managed at home, certain signs and symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

• Rapidly spreading redness or swelling
• Severe pain or tenderness in the affected area
• High fever or chills
• Pus-filled blisters that don’t improve with home care
• Signs of systemic infection, such as difficulty breathing or confusion

If you experience any of these symptoms or if a skin infection doesn’t improve within a few days of home treatment, consult a healthcare provider promptly.

Complications of Untreated Staph Infections

While many staph infections remain localized to the skin, untreated or severe infections can lead to serious complications. Understanding these potential outcomes underscores the importance of prompt treatment and proper care.

Systemic Infections

In some cases, staph bacteria can enter the bloodstream, leading to a condition called bacteremia. This can result in infections in various parts of the body, including:

• Endocarditis: Infection of the heart valves
• Osteomyelitis: Infection of the bones
• Septic arthritis: Infection in the joints
• Pneumonia: Infection in the lungs

These systemic infections can be life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but severe complication of certain staph infections. It occurs when the bacteria produce toxins that enter the bloodstream, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure and failure of multiple organs. Symptoms of TSS can include:

• High fever
• Low blood pressure
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• A sunburn-like rash
• Confusion or disorientation

TSS is a medical emergency that requires immediate hospitalization and treatment.

Antibiotic Resistance

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant staph strains, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These infections are more challenging to treat and may require stronger antibiotics with potentially more side effects.

To combat antibiotic resistance, it’s crucial to use antibiotics only when necessary and as prescribed by a healthcare provider. Additionally, completing the full course of antibiotics, even if symptoms improve, helps prevent the development of resistant bacteria.

Living with Recurrent Staph Infections

Some individuals may experience recurrent staph infections, which can be frustrating and concerning. If you find yourself dealing with frequent staph infections, consider the following strategies:

1. Work with your healthcare provider to identify potential underlying causes, such as chronic skin conditions or immune system issues.
2. Follow a strict hygiene regimen, including regular hand washing and keeping skin clean and moisturized.
3. Consider using antibacterial soaps or washes as recommended by your healthcare provider.
4. Be vigilant about treating minor skin injuries promptly to prevent infection.
5. Avoid sharing personal items and regularly clean frequently touched surfaces in your home.
6. If prescribed, use preventive antibiotics or topical treatments as directed by your healthcare provider.

By implementing these measures and working closely with your healthcare team, you can reduce the frequency and severity of staph infections and improve your overall quality of life.

Research and Future Directions in Staph Infection Management

The medical community continues to research new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat staph infections, especially in light of the growing concern over antibiotic resistance. Some promising areas of research include:

• Development of new antibiotics effective against resistant strains
• Exploration of alternative treatments, such as bacteriophage therapy
• Creation of vaccines to prevent staph infections
• Improvement of diagnostic tools for faster and more accurate identification of staph strains
• Investigation of the human microbiome and its role in preventing staph colonization

These ongoing research efforts offer hope for more effective management of staph infections in the future, potentially reducing their impact on public health and individual well-being.

The Role of Public Health Initiatives

Public health organizations play a crucial role in managing and preventing the spread of staph infections, particularly in healthcare settings and communities. Some important initiatives include:

• Education programs on proper hygiene and infection prevention
• Surveillance of antibiotic-resistant strains
• Implementation of infection control protocols in healthcare facilities
• Promotion of appropriate antibiotic use to combat resistance
• Research funding for new treatments and prevention strategies

By supporting these public health efforts and staying informed about best practices for infection prevention, individuals can contribute to the broader fight against staph infections and their complications.

Staph infections – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These types of germs are commonly found on the skin or in the nose of many healthy people. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections.

Treatment usually involves antibiotics and cleaning of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics. To treat antibiotic-resistant staph infections, health care providers may need to use antibiotics that can cause more side effects.

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Symptoms

Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to life-threatening illness. For example, endocarditis, a serious infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium) can be caused by staph bacteria. Signs and symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

Staph infection

infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.

Skin infections

Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

• Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil. This is a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen.

  If a boil breaks open, it will probably drain pus. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.

• Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can be caused by staph bacteria. Impetigo usually has large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust.
• Cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin. It causes redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores or areas of oozing discharge may develop, too.
• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Toxins produced by the staph bacteria may cause staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Affecting mostly babies and children, this condition includes a fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off. This leaves a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Food poisoning

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of food poisoning. The bacteria multiply in food and produce toxins that make you sick. Symptoms come on quickly, usually within hours of eating a contaminated food. Symptoms usually disappear quickly, too, often lasting just half a day.

A staph infection in food usually doesn’t cause a fever. Signs and symptoms you can expect with this type of staph infection include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure

Bacteremia

Also known as a bloodstream infection, bacteremia occurs when staph bacteria enter the bloodstream. A fever and low blood pressure are signs of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to locations deep within your body to cause infections that affect:

• Internal organs, such as your brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis) or lungs (pneumonia)
• Bones and muscles
• Surgically implanted devices, such as artificial joints or cardiac pacemakers

Toxic shock syndrome

This life-threatening condition results from toxins produced by some strains of staph bacteria. The condition has been linked to certain types of tampons, skin wounds and surgery. It usually develops suddenly with:

• A high fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• A rash on your palms and soles that looks like a sunburn
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria often target the knees, shoulders, hips, and fingers or toes. Artificial joints may also be at risk of infection. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Joint swelling
• Severe pain in the affected joint
• Fever

When to see a doctor

Go to your health care provider if you or your child has:

• An area of red, irritated or painful skin
• Pus-filled blisters
• Fever

You may also want to talk to your provider if:

• Skin infections are being passed from one family member to another
• Two or more family members have skin infections at the same time

Causes

Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their nose and never develop staph infections. However, if you develop a staph infection, there’s a good chance that it’s from bacteria you’ve been carrying around for some time.

Staph bacteria can also be spread from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on objects such as pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.

Staph bacteria can make you sick by causing an infection. You can also become sick from the toxins produced by the bacteria.

Staph bacteria can survive:

• Drying
• Extremes of temperature
• Stomach acid

Risk factors

Many factors — including the health of your immune system or the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Underlying health conditions

Certain disorders or the medications used to treat them can make you more likely to get staph infections. People who may be more likely to get a staph infection include those with:

• Diabetes who use insulin
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney failure requiring dialysis
• Weakened immune systems — either from a disease or medications that suppress the immune system
• A transplant
• Cancer, especially those who are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation
• Skin damage from conditions such as eczema, insect bites or minor trauma that opens the skin
• Lung (respiratory) illness, such as cystic fibrosis or emphysema

Current or recent hospitalization

Despite strong attempts to get rid of them, staph bacteria stay present in hospitals, where they can infect people who are most at risk of infection. This can include people with:

• Weakened immune systems
• Burns
• Surgical wounds

Sometimes people admitted to the hospital may be screened to see if they’re carrying staph bacteria. Screening is done using a nasal swab. Treatment to get rid of the bacteria may be given to help prevent infection and decrease the spread to others.

Invasive and implanted devices

Staph bacteria can get into the body by traveling along medical tubing. These devices make a connection between the outside and the inside of your body. Examples are:

• Urinary catheters
• Tubing placed in a vein (intravenous catheters)

Also, staph bacteria are attracted to implanted devices, where they grow on the surface and cause infection. These include surgically implanted devices such as:

• Artificial joints
• Cardiac pacemakers

Contact sports

Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, scrapes and skin-to-skin contact. Staph infections may also spread in the locker room through shared razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

Unsanitary food preparation

Food handlers who don’t properly wash their hands can transfer staph bacteria from their skin to the food they’re preparing. The bacteria multiply in the food and produce toxins that make you sick. Cooking can kill the bacteria. But the toxins are still in the food. Foods that are contaminated with staph bacteria do not look or taste differently.

Complications

If staph bacteria invade your bloodstream, you may develop a type of infection that affects your entire body. Called sepsis, this infection can lead to septic shock. This is a life-threatening episode when your blood pressure drops to an extremely low level.

Staph infections can also turn deadly if the bacteria invade deep into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.

Prevention

These commonsense precautions can help lower your risk of getting staph infections:

• Wash your hands. Thorough hand washing is your best defense against germs. Wash your hands with soap and water briskly for at least 20 seconds. Then dry them with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren’t visibly dirty or you aren’t able to wash your hands, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, such as before, during and after making food; after handling raw meat or poultry; before eating; after using the bathroom; and after touching an animal or animal waste.

• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria. Keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Reduce tampon risks. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by staph bacteria. Tampons left in for long periods can grow staph bacteria. You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently — at least every 4 to 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can. Try to alternate tampons with sanitary napkins whenever possible.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread on objects, as well as from person to person.
• Wash clothing and bedding. Staph bacteria can spread on clothing, towels and bedding. To remove bacteria, wash and dry items at the warmest temperature recommended by the items’ labels. It’s OK if you can’t use hot water, as using detergent in your wash is enough to make items clean and safe for use. You can use bleach on any bleach-safe materials.
• Take food safety precautions. Wash your hands before handling food. If food will be out for a while, make sure that hot foods stay hot — above 140 F (60 C). Make sure that cold foods stay at 40 F (4.4 C) or below. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible. Wash cutting boards and counters with soap and water.

Staph infections – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These types of germs are commonly found on the skin or in the nose of many healthy people. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or cause relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections.

Treatment usually involves antibiotics and cleaning of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics. To treat antibiotic-resistant staph infections, health care providers may need to use antibiotics that can cause more side effects.

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Symptoms

Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to life-threatening illness. For example, endocarditis, a serious infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium) can be caused by staph bacteria. Signs and symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

Staph infection

infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.

Skin infections

Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

• Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil. This is a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen.

  If a boil breaks open, it will probably drain pus. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.

• Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can be caused by staph bacteria. Impetigo usually has large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust.
• Cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin. It causes redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores or areas of oozing discharge may develop, too.
• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Toxins produced by the staph bacteria may cause staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Affecting mostly babies and children, this condition includes a fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off. This leaves a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Food poisoning

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of food poisoning. The bacteria multiply in food and produce toxins that make you sick. Symptoms come on quickly, usually within hours of eating a contaminated food. Symptoms usually disappear quickly, too, often lasting just half a day.

A staph infection in food usually doesn’t cause a fever. Signs and symptoms you can expect with this type of staph infection include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure

Bacteremia

Also known as a bloodstream infection, bacteremia occurs when staph bacteria enter the bloodstream. A fever and low blood pressure are signs of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to locations deep within your body to cause infections that affect:

• Internal organs, such as your brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis) or lungs (pneumonia)
• Bones and muscles
• Surgically implanted devices, such as artificial joints or cardiac pacemakers

Toxic shock syndrome

This life-threatening condition results from toxins produced by some strains of staph bacteria. The condition has been linked to certain types of tampons, skin wounds and surgery. It usually develops suddenly with:

• A high fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• A rash on your palms and soles that looks like a sunburn
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria often target the knees, shoulders, hips, and fingers or toes. Artificial joints may also be at risk of infection. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Joint swelling
• Severe pain in the affected joint
• Fever

When to see a doctor

Go to your health care provider if you or your child has:

• An area of red, irritated or painful skin
• Pus-filled blisters
• Fever

You may also want to talk to your provider if:

• Skin infections are being passed from one family member to another
• Two or more family members have skin infections at the same time

Causes

Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin or in their nose and never develop staph infections. However, if you develop a staph infection, there’s a good chance that it’s from bacteria you’ve been carrying around for some time.

Staph bacteria can also be spread from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on objects such as pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.

Staph bacteria can make you sick by causing an infection. You can also become sick from the toxins produced by the bacteria.

Staph bacteria can survive:

• Drying
• Extremes of temperature
• Stomach acid

Risk factors

Many factors — including the health of your immune system or the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Underlying health conditions

Certain disorders or the medications used to treat them can make you more likely to get staph infections. People who may be more likely to get a staph infection include those with:

• Diabetes who use insulin
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney failure requiring dialysis
• Weakened immune systems — either from a disease or medications that suppress the immune system
• A transplant
• Cancer, especially those who are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation
• Skin damage from conditions such as eczema, insect bites or minor trauma that opens the skin
• Lung (respiratory) illness, such as cystic fibrosis or emphysema

Current or recent hospitalization

Despite strong attempts to get rid of them, staph bacteria stay present in hospitals, where they can infect people who are most at risk of infection. This can include people with:

• Weakened immune systems
• Burns
• Surgical wounds

Sometimes people admitted to the hospital may be screened to see if they’re carrying staph bacteria. Screening is done using a nasal swab. Treatment to get rid of the bacteria may be given to help prevent infection and decrease the spread to others.

Invasive and implanted devices

Staph bacteria can get into the body by traveling along medical tubing. These devices make a connection between the outside and the inside of your body. Examples are:

• Urinary catheters
• Tubing placed in a vein (intravenous catheters)

Also, staph bacteria are attracted to implanted devices, where they grow on the surface and cause infection. These include surgically implanted devices such as:

• Artificial joints
• Cardiac pacemakers

Contact sports

Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, scrapes and skin-to-skin contact. Staph infections may also spread in the locker room through shared razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

Unsanitary food preparation

Food handlers who don’t properly wash their hands can transfer staph bacteria from their skin to the food they’re preparing. The bacteria multiply in the food and produce toxins that make you sick. Cooking can kill the bacteria. But the toxins are still in the food. Foods that are contaminated with staph bacteria do not look or taste differently.

Complications

If staph bacteria invade your bloodstream, you may develop a type of infection that affects your entire body. Called sepsis, this infection can lead to septic shock. This is a life-threatening episode when your blood pressure drops to an extremely low level.

Staph infections can also turn deadly if the bacteria invade deep into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart.

Prevention

These commonsense precautions can help lower your risk of getting staph infections:

• Wash your hands. Thorough hand washing is your best defense against germs. Wash your hands with soap and water briskly for at least 20 seconds. Then dry them with a disposable towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren’t visibly dirty or you aren’t able to wash your hands, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  Wash your hands with soap and water regularly, such as before, during and after making food; after handling raw meat or poultry; before eating; after using the bathroom; and after touching an animal or animal waste.

• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria. Keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Reduce tampon risks. Toxic shock syndrome is caused by staph bacteria. Tampons left in for long periods can grow staph bacteria. You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently — at least every 4 to 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can. Try to alternate tampons with sanitary napkins whenever possible.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread on objects, as well as from person to person.
• Wash clothing and bedding. Staph bacteria can spread on clothing, towels and bedding. To remove bacteria, wash and dry items at the warmest temperature recommended by the items’ labels. It’s OK if you can’t use hot water, as using detergent in your wash is enough to make items clean and safe for use. You can use bleach on any bleach-safe materials.
• Take food safety precautions. Wash your hands before handling food. If food will be out for a while, make sure that hot foods stay hot — above 140 F (60 C). Make sure that cold foods stay at 40 F (4.4 C) or below. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible. Wash cutting boards and counters with soap and water.

Ulcers on the skin as a symptom of diseases

March 27, 2019

An abscess or pustule is a cavity element filled with pus. Rashes in the form of ulcers on the skin can be observed in various diseases. Pustular lesions of the skin (pyoderma) belong to the group of infectious and inflammatory diseases. The most common pathogens are staphylococci and streptococci.

Ulcers on the skin: causes

Depending on the pathogen, pyoderma is divided into streptoderma and staphyloderma. The appearance of abscesses on the skin is due to the presence of the entrance gate of infection and a decrease in the protective forces of the body’s immune system. The source of pathogenic microorganisms is the bacterial flora of the skin, respiratory organs, and the environment.

Factors predisposing to skin ulcers:

• overwork;
• hypothermia/overheating of the body;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver;
• malnutrition;
• chronic intoxication.

Ulcers on the skin as a symptom of diseases

Staphyloderma combines the following diseases:

• Folliculitis and ostiofolliculitis. Ulcers on the skin are concentrated in the face, neck, forearm, lower leg, thigh. A pustule with a yellowish apex gradually increases in diameter, then dries up and becomes covered with a crust.
• Staphylococcal sycosis. Recurrent rashes in the form of folliculitis and ostiofolliculitis, concentrated in the area of ​​the mustache, beard, wings of the nose.
• Epidemic pemphigus of the newborn. Ulcers on the skin causes Staphylococcus aureus. Numerous bubbles of different sizes have cloudy or transparent contents. Then they open up and turn into crusted erosions.
• Furuncle. Hard, purulent protrusion surrounded by reddened and inflamed skin. The inflammatory process grows and is accompanied by pain, fever. The furuncle erupts with an outpouring of pus and blood.
• Carbuncle. Several tubercles-infiltrates merge into one with the formation of a pustule, this is accompanied by fever and symptoms of intoxication. When the pustules are opened, necrotic masses and pus with blood impurities depart.
• Hydradenitis. Ulcers on the skin are localized in the area of ​​apocrine sweat glands. At the initial stage, itchy nodules appear, painful when pressed. The ripening stage is accompanied by an increase in temperature and intoxication.

Streptoderma includes diseases such as:

• Streptococcal impetigo. Ulcers on the skin of the face, trunk, lateral surfaces of the arms and legs look like bubbles filled with a clear liquid. Soon it becomes cloudy and turns into pus, then the pustules dry up and become covered with crusts.
• Bullous impetigo. Blisters are spherical, up to 2 cm in diameter. The skin swells, probably the development of lymphadenitis, lymphangitis and weakness.
• Ecthyma vulgaris. A large and deeply located conflict with purulent or purulent-hemorrhagic contents, dries up over time and forms a thick crust.

Treatment of skin ulcers

Therapy of pyoderma is etiological, pathogenetic and symptomatic. Antibacterial and vitamin preparations can be prescribed, immunotherapy and physiotherapy are used, disinfectants are locally prescribed.

When abscesses appear on the skin, do not squeeze them out, open them, comb them yourself. This can lead to the spread of infection and secondary infection, as well as the formation of visible scars at the site of the rash.

You can undergo genetic testing to determine your susceptibility to dermatological diseases at the medical genetic center “Genomed”.

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Exudative epidermitis (inflammation of the epidermis) from staphylococci – Articles

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Read this article in: Pig health

A specific case of this disease occurred with farrowing litter on a large farm in southwestern Ontario, Canada.

June 6, 2014

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Introduction

Exudative epidermitis (EE) or porcine parakeratosis is a bacterial skin disease that occurs in animals of all ages, but most commonly in small piglets that are breastfed or recently weaned. The disease has been identified in most swine-producing countries of the world and will occur on most farms from time to time. Staphylococcus hyicus, the bacterial cause of EE, can be found on the tissue lining of the nose, eyes, and skin of healthy piglets, as well as the vagina of healthy sows. The organism can survive for several weeks in a barn where animals are kept.

The disease is most dramatic in piglets born to sows that have not been immunized, ie. not vaccinated. Impact skin trauma from sharp teeth, abrasive bunk surfaces and paddocks can result in perforation of the protective skin layers. EE lesions are associated with heat-labile exfoliative toxins produced by the bacteria S. hyicus . Skin changes are accompanied by increased secretion of the sebaceous glands and serous exudate. Mortality associated with EE is initially attributed to dehydration, although septicemia and arthritis may also occur.

History

This particular case occurred with farrowed litter on a large farm in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Throughout the course of the disease, there were no clinical symptoms of EE at the place where the pigs were kept. There were also no clinical symptoms in gilts raised to replace sows kept in a kennel and nursery barn located on the farm. The disease originated initially in one of the farm’s two active nurseries. A few months later, clinical problems arose in the second nursery.

Photo 1. Acute localized lesion of EE

Piglets were breastfed once a week at three weeks of age. According to the initial history, there were no clinical symptoms of the disease until approximately 10-14 days after the end of breastfeeding. Upon closer observation, it was noted that a few days after the end of breastfeeding, the piglets began to develop localized lesions in the form of cuts and scrapes, which were associated with physical collisions of animals. Cutting off the teeth of small piglets was not practiced on this farm. Some piglets showed only localized lesions (Photo 1). Other piglets showed clinical symptoms of lethargy, drowsiness and the rapid development of a general reddening of the skin. The skin was hot to touch. Thin, pale brown scales of exudate developed in the armpits, groin, abdomen, and behind the ears. This exudate then spread throughout the skin (Photo 2). After a few days, the skin became dark in color and greasy in texture. Severely affected piglets experienced rapid weight loss and death occurred within a few days. There was no noticeable itching. The number of seriously affected animals increased, and some of them, in a painful condition, had to be euthanized. Typically, mortality after the end of breastfeeding was reduced to 2.0%. It increased to 4.0%, and in some pens it reached 9%. This problem has existed for approximately 13 months. Almost all indicators of increased mortality in this case were attributed to EE.

Photo 2. Acute generalized (general) lesion of EE

Diagnostics

Swabs from clinically affected piglets initially showed high levels of S. hyicus. Subsequent smears identified Staphylococcus chromogenes chromogens. This organism is genetically very similar to S. hyicus and is also capable of producing exfoliative toxins. An antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that there was no resistance to penicillin, but the body was sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfa and tiamulin. The detection of penicillin resistance was consistent with a recent study in Ontario that found penicillin resistance in S. hyicus isolates (Figure 1). Further analysis at the University of Guelph revealed that this particular isolate was also resistant to zinc. Additional autopsies and diagnostics were also carried out in order to identify the presence of other underlying diseases that exacerbated the problem. But no other diseases could be found.

Fig. 1. Percentage of isolates resistant to antimicrobial

Interference

EE is a classic multifactorial disease. Although the identification and correction of a single factor may lead to random results, the main focus in this case was to improve both passively acquired maternal immunity and the local immune barrier provided by intact skin. At the same time, it was considered important to reduce the level of bacterial attack.

A review of feed composition and budgeted per piglet found no abnormalities. More attention, however, needed to be given to considering the correct distribution of budgeted feed to piglets at certain stages of their growth. The food was kept fresh, easy to swallow, and all available feeding space was organized to minimize collisions during feeding. Once zinc resistance was identified, the supplemental zinc complex was eliminated from the diet.

A common procedure for these small piglet pens has been to remove the front gate in order to allow as many “little bugs” as possible into the growing stock for mixing and early colonization of sow-fed piglets. These “little bugs” typically included the bacteria Streptococcus suis, Haemophilus parasuis, and Actinobacillus suis. In this case, the solution was to close the front gate in order to prevent the spread of EE. The pens were kept closed for 4 weeks after the sows finished feeding the piglets, and then opened in larger groups. As soon as the piglets reached 4 weeks after the end of breastfeeding, the most recent outbreaks of EE broke out.

Considerable discussion has arisen about how much aggravation the bites on the teeth of small piglets increase the number of cuts and scratches that are associated with a collision. The nursery operators were adamant that teeth should be removed if that would solve the problem. Some batches of piglets had their teeth cut off on an experimental basis. All agreed that, at least in this situation, tooth clipping did not reduce the incidence and severity of EE. Teeth cutting was stopped.

Estimated the flow of drinking water. Some drinkers did not work properly. Drinkers have been repaired and adjusted to provide a minimum water flow rate of 0.5 liters per minute. Here, the goal was to avoid splashing and moisturizing the skin, while still providing adequate flow and sips in such a way as to minimize aggression around the water nipple.

Relative humidity has been reduced to 70% for autumn, winter and spring, and additional heating has been added in order to maintain minimal air exchange. The rooms were heated to 28ºC upon entry. The insulation levels in the attic were checked. The pigs were kept dry and free to move.

The premises were first populated with a 10% flow of animals, with a separate pen for sick piglets, which were immediately separated from healthy ones in the presence of clinical symptoms of the disease. Piglets with red and inflamed skin were sent to the sick pen to prevent the spread of the disease. When the house was closed, the recovered piglets were sent to another room, not returning to the younger piglets.

Sanitary procedures have been revised. Soaking was suggested the next day immediately after bathing the piglets. Increased attention has been paid to the details of washing. An alkaline cleaner was used to degrease and remove the biofilm. Acidic cleaners were originally used to remove certain minerals. Disinfectants in the form of applicators have been calibrated. Several disinfectants have been tried to find the best one. A minimum drying time of 24 hours has been reached prior to arrival.

Specifically affected piglets were injected with trimethoprim sulfanilamide for 4 days. An aqueous solution of trimethoprim sulfanilamide as a prophylactic drug was used from the day of admission to 21 days. This procedure was reduced to the main program, according to which the treatment lasted 3 days with breaks of 4 days for 3 weeks. Gradually, this treatment began to be used only when necessary.

The starting dose was 110 ppm chlorotetracycline, sulphmethazine and procaine-penicillin 55 ppm vaccines. The final dose in nurseries was procaine-penicillin at 110 ppm. No other drugs were used.

A topical spray containing a mixture of sulfuric trimethoprim and mineral oils was used prophylactically every 4 days. In addition, a topical spray was applied at the first sign of an increase in new outbreaks. In a room where there were 500 heads, if 3 of them fell ill in the morning and 3 in the evening, this spray was applied throughout the room.

Prior to the outbreak, a S. hyicus isolate was added to specific autogenous vaccines in pig farms prior to farrowing. This familiar vaccine was made using bacteria that were isolated from a special stream of sows, nurseries and the last hog finishers. By vaccinating sows before farrowing, piglets develop colostral (acquired with sows’ milk) passive immunity. Isolates of S. hyicus and S. chromogenes chromogens from nurseries were sequentially added to pre-farrowing autogenous vaccines. No rapid improvement was observed when piglets from vaccinated sows were brought to nurseries. This autogenous vaccine given before farrowing is still in use. Sows are vaccinated twice before farrowing and sows receive a one-time booster vaccine before each subsequent farrowing.

Talk

Nursery operations have returned to normal levels, but not without increasing management measures beyond what was previously required to maintain control. Initially, severe clinical symptoms were present in one of the two nurseries, and the movement of piglets and people apparently explains how the disease spread to the second nursery.