Staphylococcus Aureus Part 1

For the last decade, the subject of antibiotic resistant bacteria in regards to public safety and health has increased significantly as fewer and fewer antibiotics are able to treat infections. One bacterium has caused a significant startle among the general public, doctors, researchers, and hospital officials around the world. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a dangerous strain of common bacteria found on many orifices of the human body of most of the world’s population has become a great threat to the quality of life provided to patients in hospitals. In an effort to combat this ever growing and evolving problem, people around the world have been devising solutions to this issue by experimenting with new and old forms of the strain to figure out what makes this strain of bacteria so capable against our natural defenses. While research continues into discovering the exact mechanics of this terrible strain, others have been working to correct the infection control policies of countries with higher percentages of resistant strains of Staph (Staphylococcus). Although it has been the worlds plan to continue making antibiotics in order to combat harmful strains of bacteria, I personally believe it is now becoming clear that it is only part of the solution, and that we need to rely less on our use of antibiotics and more on our knowledge of prevention if we ever want to see a decrease in the resistance of newer strains of bacteria.

In order to understand how to defeat S. Aureus (Staphylococcus Aureus), we must first understand what it is and how it is contracted. There is plenty of valuable information about Staph infections at kidshealth.org. S. Aureus is a bacterium that is commonly found on approximately 25% of the world’s population without causing any problems. However, when there is a break in a person’s skin, the bacteria can infect the wound and impair the individual’s health. In addition, this bacterium is part of a family of about 30 species of staph infections which all cause different types of illnesses. However, most staph infections are caused by the strain S. Aureus. Teens who receive staph infections usually have mild cases of the bacteria. This is common in college setting when students live in close quarters and the bacteria are able to pass through skin to skin contact. However, unlike bacteria that are nearly exclusively transferred in locker rooms, that cause athletes foot and plantar warts, this bacteria is usually caused from people sharing towels, clothes, and bed linens with someone who has an infection. People who have suffered a burn or have re-occurring eczema (very dry skin), have an increased chance of receiving a staph infection. Staph infections thrive in warm, wet places, so increased sweating can increase the chance of a staph infection. According to those who have written about Staph infections at webmd.com, there are varying types of staph infections. They state that

“these staph infections range from a simple boil to antibiotic-resistant infections to flesh-eating infections. The difference between all these is how deep and how fast the infection spreads, and how treatable it is with antibiotics. The antibiotic-resistant infections are more common in North America, because of our overuse of antibiotics.

The type of staph infection that involves skin is called cellulitis and affects the skin's deeper layers. It is treatable with antibiotics.

This type of infection is very common in the general population -- and more common and more severe in people with weak immune systems. People who have diabetes or weakened immunity are particularly prone to developing cellulitis,” (Staph Infections).

This is the essence of what a staph infection is, but when and why have these infections become a serious problem?