Sunday, August 30, 2009

Staph Infection - What Is Staphylococcus And What Can It Cause?

by Stephen Turitz

The common name for the infection caused Staphylococcus bacteria is "Staph Infection". This is what we lay people know it to be. Essentially Staphylococcus bacteria are harmless, but they catch you in the wrong place at the wrong time they can be lethal. Many people get Staph infections and hardly know they are infected.

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.

Technically speaking this bacteria is gram-positive, unencapsulated cocci which is also facultative anaerobic, most of the time, unless things change. Are you any the wiser for knowing this? Because it doesn't mean that much to me, so let us try to understand a little more.

"Oh dear, I do believe that my wound has been infected by gram-positive, facultative anaerobic un-encapsulated cocci", no one will understand a word you are saying but it will certainly make you appear to be very bright.

It also occurs on other parts of the body, but is more rare. Generally speaking they do not cause illness unless the skin is broken by an injury and they invade the site of the injury, multiplying and causing infection.

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.

Most commonly these infection sites are on the skin, but if the infection becomes chronic it can enter the bloodstream and cause more serious infections.

The most common infections of this nature affect the skin, and these can be mild or severe. The site affected by Staphylococcus becomes inflamed, red and generally pus filled. It is also responsible for food poisoning in some instances, mastitis, TSS, and other illnesses, but this is generally only after the bacteria have managed to invade the blood-stream.

About the Author:

There are many people who have joined the wrestling team and contracted staff infection. If you are one of them, go get help right away, it's a dangerous virus.

Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/health/staph-infection-what-is-staphylococcus-and-what-can-it-cause

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