Where is staphylococcus aureus found in humans

To prevent staph infections, practice proper hand hygiene, keep infected areas covered and clean, and avoid sharing personal items like razors, towels, and needles. Staphylococcus aureus. Sign up to receive monthly Infection Prevention updates from apic.

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. A variety of factors — including the status of your immune system to the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections. Certain disorders or the medications used to treat them can make you more susceptible to staph infections.

People who may be more likely to get a staph infection include those with:. Despite vigorous attempts to eradicate them, staph bacteria remain present in hospitals, where they attack the most vulnerable, including people with:. Staph bacteria can travel along the medical tubing that connects the outside world with your internal organs.

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

Food handlers who don't properly wash their hands can transfer staph from their skin to the food they're preparing. Foods that are contaminated with staph look and taste normal. 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 — a life-threatening episode with extremely low blood pressure. Wash your hands. Careful 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 another towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren't visibly dirty, 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.

How golden staph is spread Infections caused by golden staph Drug-resistant strains of golden staph Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem Infection in hospitals Community-acquired golden staph infection Long-term prevention of golden staph Where to get help Things to remember. Staphylococcus aureus, or S. It is also called golden staph. In most situations, S. However, if it enters the body through a cut in the skin, it can cause a range of mild to severe infections, which may cause death in some cases.

How golden staph is spread Golden staph is commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Around two to three out of every tenpeople carry the bacterium in their noses. The armpits axilla , groin and under skin folds are other places golden staph likes to inhabit. Golden staph can be spread by skin-on-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces. Poor personal hygiene and not covering open wounds can lead to infection with golden staph. Thorough hand washing and good housekeeping, such as damp dusting, are important as golden staph is part of our environment.

Infections caused by golden staph Common infections caused by golden staph include: boils and abscesses — infections of the skin impetigo school sores — a highly contagious, crusty skin infection that may affect newborn babies and schoolchildren. More serious infections include: meningitis — infection of the membranes lining the brain osteomyelitis — infection of the bone and bone marrow pneumonia — infection of one or both lungs septic phlebitis — infection of a vein endocarditis — infection of the heart valves.

Drug-resistant strains of golden staph A bacterial infection consists of countless individual bacteria. Most infections caused by golden staph are treatable with antibiotics. However, there is a strong possibility that a few bacteria will survive a course of antibiotics, perhaps due to a gene mutation.

Persons who are immunocompromised or who have invasive medical devices are particularly vulnerable to infection. In recent years physicians and other health care providers have observed an increasing number of people with MRSA infections who lack traditional health care-associated risk factors. These people appear to have community-associated infections. Complications Most skin infections resolve without treatment, however, some infections require incision and drainage or antibiotic treatment to cure the infection.

Skin infections that are left untreated can develop into more serious life-threatening infections such as infections of the bone or blood. Some people experience repeated infections with S.

There is a possibility for longer lasting or more severe infections with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA if the initial antibiotic prescribed is not capable of killing the bacteria.