Staph Infection - Staphylococcus Bacteria And What It Does?
Staphylococcus, or more kindly known as staph infection is a group of different bacteria, of a similar type which is able to cause a whole lot of different illnesses. It affects different parts of the body in different ways, and these illnesses can range from mild: with no or very little treatment required, to very serious illnesses which require intensive treatment and can be potentially life threatening.
As with much medical terminology, Staphylococcus is a word whose source lies in Greek, Staphyle and Kokkos; the former being a bunch of grapes and the latter; berries. It is so named because this is what these bacteria look like under microscopic scrutiny.
For those of you with a more scientific bent, it is gram-positive, facultative anaerobic unencapsulated cocci. Don't try to say that when you have had a few drinks. To understand these a little better we don't need to know the scientific stuff.
Essentially there are more than thirty different Staphylococci (the plural of Staphylococcus) which are able to cause infections in the human body. However most of these are of the "aureus" variety.
They are found naturally in areas of the body such as the nose and on the skin, and can also be found elsewhere but this is less common. 20 - 30% of healthy adults walk around with these little boogers hitching a ride. More often than not they do not cause any illness. The problem is that when an injury is incurred, the bacteria can overcome the body's natural resistance to them.
Much like any other illness some people are more prone to these infections than others. Staph infections are a danger to newborn babies, feeding mothers, people with illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and lung disease and people who make use of intravenous drugs, for recreational or other purposes.
People with compromised immune systems, who have undergone surgery, are intravenous drug users are all at risk. But anyone is able to develop a staph infection.
It can cause food poisoning, mastitis, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and many other serious illnesses. But essentially it is just a little, bunch of grape shaped booger, that many of us walk around with naturally and hardly harms us at all.
As with much medical terminology, Staphylococcus is a word whose source lies in Greek, Staphyle and Kokkos; the former being a bunch of grapes and the latter; berries. It is so named because this is what these bacteria look like under microscopic scrutiny.
For those of you with a more scientific bent, it is gram-positive, facultative anaerobic unencapsulated cocci. Don't try to say that when you have had a few drinks. To understand these a little better we don't need to know the scientific stuff.
Essentially there are more than thirty different Staphylococci (the plural of Staphylococcus) which are able to cause infections in the human body. However most of these are of the "aureus" variety.
They are found naturally in areas of the body such as the nose and on the skin, and can also be found elsewhere but this is less common. 20 - 30% of healthy adults walk around with these little boogers hitching a ride. More often than not they do not cause any illness. The problem is that when an injury is incurred, the bacteria can overcome the body's natural resistance to them.
Much like any other illness some people are more prone to these infections than others. Staph infections are a danger to newborn babies, feeding mothers, people with illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and lung disease and people who make use of intravenous drugs, for recreational or other purposes.
People with compromised immune systems, who have undergone surgery, are intravenous drug users are all at risk. But anyone is able to develop a staph infection.
It can cause food poisoning, mastitis, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and many other serious illnesses. But essentially it is just a little, bunch of grape shaped booger, that many of us walk around with naturally and hardly harms us at all.
About the Author:
It could be your worst nightmare. Check into a hospital and then come out with a staff infection. Thousands of Americans have had this happen, see what they've done.