How to Identify Symptoms of Staphylococcal Infection

Staphylococcal infections are caused by the bacteria *Staphylococcus aureus* and are generally easy to treat. Skin infections are the most common type, often occurring when burns or wounds become infected. Fortunately, most infections are mild and heal quickly if you keep the wound clean and bandaged. However, you should see a doctor if symptoms worsen or if fever occurs. Though rare, staph bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause serious health issues. Timely treatment can prevent severe infections that may threaten life.

Look for pimples, boils, or areas of red and swollen skin. Skin infections are a common form of staphylococcal infection. Skin lesions may appear as pimples, boils, blisters, or red, swollen, and hot areas of skin, sometimes accompanied by pus or other fluids.

• Broken skin is more susceptible to infection. Regular handwashing and keeping the wound clean are essential steps to prevent staph infections on the skin.

Pay attention to abscesses or pus-filled pockets. Abscesses are swollen skin pockets filled with pus. You will notice that an abscess feels liquid inside, unlike lumps under the skin, and it typically hurts when touched. If you experience increasing pain or pus draining from the wound, it signals a severe infection. In such cases, call your doctor immediately.

Wash your hands before and after touching an infected area. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before cleaning the wound or changing the bandage. This is important to prevent further contamination. Once you've treated the infected skin, wash your hands again to stop spreading bacteria.

Soak the infected skin 3 times daily and bandage it. In mild cases of abscesses and skin infections, home care measures can help the infection heal on its own. Clean the affected area carefully, soak it in warm water for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, and cover it with a sterile bandage. Change the bandage 2-3 times a day or whenever it gets wet.

• If desired, you can add salt to the warm water. Try soaking the infected skin in a solution made by mixing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of table salt with 1 liter of warm water. This saline solution can help soothe the skin. Although salt doesn't kill staphylococcus bacteria, it may eliminate some infection-causing agents.

Do not attempt to drain an abscess yourself. Avoid touching the infected area unless you're caring for the wound. Always wash your hands before and after treating the wound. If there's an abscess, don't try to drain or burst it yourself.

• Scratching or attempting to pop an abscess can lead to contamination and the spread of bacteria.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience serious signs of skin infection. Mild redness and swelling of the skin usually heal on their own within a day or two if the wound is kept clean. However, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible if pain, swelling, or abscesses worsen, or if you develop a fever.

• Only a doctor can accurately diagnose a staphylococcal infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
• Cover the infected skin with a sterile bandage until you can see a doctor.

Rest and hydrate if you have food poisoning. Staphylococcus bacteria are a common cause of food poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and these typically improve within a day. If you don't feel better within 24-48 hours, call your doctor.

• During recovery, avoid strenuous activities, stay hydrated with water, sports drinks, or Pedialyte to maintain your body's fluid balance. Stick to light foods like white rice, broth-based soups, or plain meat stock. Wash your hands frequently to prevent spreading germs, especially after vomiting or diarrhea.

See a doctor if you suspect you have septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is a joint infection commonly caused by staphylococcus bacteria. If you experience severe joint pain, redness, swelling, and fever, schedule a doctor's appointment. The infection typically affects a single joint, often in the knee, ankle, or toe.

• Symptoms of septic arthritis appear suddenly. In other types of arthritis, pain and swelling develop gradually, often at specific times of the day, and affect multiple joints.
• The doctor will examine you and may perform bacterial cultures. Fluid may be withdrawn from the joint to relieve swelling. If an infection is confirmed, the doctor may inject medication into the joint or prescribe oral antibiotics.

Seek emergency care if you show signs of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS can occur when staphylococcus bacteria spread into the bloodstream and organs. Symptoms include: a fever above 39°C, disorientation, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and a red rash on the palms and soles.

• TSS is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. It can result from prolonged use of a tampon, or from infections in burns, wounds, or surgical sites.

Get immediate medical help if you exhibit symptoms of sepsis. Sepsis is a severe condition triggered by the body's immune response to widespread infection. Symptoms include: high fever above 39°C, chills, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and shallow breathing. If untreated, sepsis can lead to blood clotting, poor circulation, and organ failure.

• Sepsis is a medical emergency, so go to the hospital as soon as possible if an infected wound doesn't heal and you develop symptoms of sepsis.
• Although anyone can develop sepsis, those at higher risk include individuals with weakened immune systems, young children, the elderly, those with chronic conditions (such as kidney or liver disease), or those with severe burns or injuries.

Consult a doctor if symptoms worsen or deteriorate. If your skin infection worsens, does not heal, or presents severe symptoms like a fever, seek medical care as soon as possible. While life-threatening infections are rare, even a mild skin infection can lead to major health complications if not treated properly.

• It is especially important to see a doctor if you are elderly, have a weakened immune system, a chronic illness, or severe burns or injuries. Infants or young children with unhealed infections or high fever should be brought to a doctor.

Get a medical examination and undergo bacterial culture tests. During your visit to the doctor, they will perform an examination. The doctor will ask you to describe when and how the symptoms started. They may also recommend a bacterial culture to determine the specific cause of the infection.

• If you have a skin infection, the doctor will use a swab to collect tissue or pus samples from the infected area.
• In cases of toxic shock syndrome or sepsis, you may undergo a blood test to check for bacteria and white blood cell count. However, treatment typically begins before test results come back. Antibiotics and intravenous fluids should be administered as soon as possible, as this is a serious condition.

Drain abscesses and other skin lesions. If you have a skin infection and an abscess forms, the doctor may need to drain the abscess. You will be numbed, and the doctor will make a small incision to allow pus to drain, then bandage it with gauze.

• Follow the doctor's instructions for wound care after the abscess drainage. Clean the wound 2-3 times a day, apply the prescribed ointment, and cover it with a clean bandage. Change the bandage 2-3 times a day or whenever it gets wet.

Take prescribed medication. Cases of staphylococcal infections that do not heal with home care will require antibiotic treatment. Follow the doctor's instructions and do not stop taking the antibiotics before completing the prescribed course, as the infection may return or worsen.

• Additionally, the doctor may recommend pain relievers to manage swelling, fever, and other related symptoms.

Notify your doctor if symptoms do not improve. Staphylococcus bacteria can adapt quickly, and many strains become resistant to certain antibiotics. A bacterial culture test may assist the doctor in selecting the appropriate antibiotic, and you should start feeling better within two days. If not, you should contact your doctor to discuss alternative medications.

• Your doctor may recommend administering stronger antibiotics intravenously.