Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous and widespread type of infection that a person has to face throughout his life. There is not a single internal organ where the pathogen could not get through. And the saddest thing is that the main habitat of Staphylococcus aureus are hospitals. And the more hygienic protective measures are applied, the stronger the infection becomes, as it develops tolerance to them over time. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out whether Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous for others, what diseases it causes and what medicines help fight it.
Feature of the pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive, round-shaped bacterium that lives on the skin and mucous membranesperson. When grown in a special environment, they form golden colonies, which gave the name to this variety of pathogens.
You can detect Staphylococcus aureus in every he althy person. At the same time, most of the bacteria (about 70-90%) are present in the respiratory tract, oral cavity and hearing organs. To a lesser extent, the microorganism is found in the intestines, on the skin and genitals. But in the absence of favorable conditions for reproduction, Staphylococcus aureus coexists peacefully with humans, without causing the development of dangerous diseases. That is why this microorganism belongs to the conditionally pathogenic microflora.
But when all the conditions for reproduction are combined, the dormant pathogen comes into action, which threatens with serious he alth complications. Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous for others because it is the main cause of purulent processes and bacterial inflammation, as it produces toxins that inhibit the normal functioning of body cells.
This can be expressed by minor skin rashes, and can contribute to the development of deadly sepsis. According to statistics, this pathogen provokes the development of more than a hundred different diseases. According to these data, one can judge whether Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous for others or not.
His main feature is that he constantly mutates and learns not to react to the action of antibiotics. The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to the penicillin drug group reaches 90%.
In addition, the microorganism is not susceptible to high temperatures,exposure to direct sunlight, ethyl alcohol (100%), hydrogen peroxide.
What is the danger of Staphylococcus aureus in adults and children?
During its activity, the pathogen produces toxins dangerous to human he alth.
Main types of harmful substances produced by the pathogen:
- Membrane damaging substances. They bind to the receptors of the cell membrane, form a channel through which harmful ions and molecules pass unhindered. As a result, this leads to swelling and subsequent rupture of the cell.
- Exfoliative components. They are the main causative agent of pemphigus in newborns and scarlet fever.
- Exotoxins. Contribute to the development of toxic shock syndrome, cause fever, lower blood pressure, kidney dysfunction and reduce the concentration of leukocytes in the blood.
- True leukocidin. Has a destructive effect on leukocytes.
- Exotoxins. They provoke the development of skin and respiratory allergies. This is expressed in various dermatitis and bronchial asthma.
- Proteins. Their function is to suppress the processes of phagocytosis, which prevents the human body from entering an active fight against harmful microorganisms. By reducing the function of T- and B-lymphocytes, they thereby reduce the effectiveness of the body's defense reaction, which negatively affects he alth.
How dangerous is Staphylococcus aureus in the throat?
The appearance of Staphylococcus aureus in the throat is the main provoking factor in the development of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis. At the same time, various purulent ulcers and erosions form on the mucosa, which greatly complicates the treatment of pathology. With an advanced form of the disease, numerous purulent overlays and necrotic areas must be removed surgically.
The presence of a bacterium in the throat poses a threat to the entire body, since as it progresses, the infection moves further and captures all adjacent organs and tissues, which greatly complicates the situation.
Therefore, knowing how dangerous Staphylococcus aureus is in the throat, you should pay special attention to your he alth and treat diseases in time.
Main signs of a throat lesion:
- tickle;
- hoarse voice;
- pain when swallowing;
- sputum when coughing with impurities of pus;
- increased dry mouth;
- inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes.
What threatens the development of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose?
The sinuses are the most common habitat for Staphylococcus aureus. Often, it asymptomatically exists there for a long period, but if a provoking factor occurs in the form of hypothermia, SARS, uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops, it actively multiplies and contributes to the development of an acute form of rhinitis.
What is the danger of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose? In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathogen spreads further and can cause sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis.
Characteristic signs of a nose lesion:
- rapid runny nose;
- allocationsinitially transparent and then purulent;
- voice becomes hoarse and nasal;
- smell disappears;
- shortness of breath.
In the ear
When Staphylococcus aureus enters and creates a favorable environment for its reproduction, otitis develops. That's why Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous in the ear.
Characteristic symptoms of the lesion:
- ear congestion;
- itch;
- pain in the external auditory canal;
- ear purulent discharge.
In the absence of adequate treatment, the infection spreads further and can lead to damage to the lining of the brain, bone tissue and cause partial or complete hearing loss.
In the intestines
The settlement of Staphylococcus aureus in the intestine provokes the development of inflammatory processes. Why is Staphylococcus aureus dangerous in the intestines? Active reproduction of microorganisms can provoke food poisoning, which will weaken the body's immune system.
As a result, the infection contributes to the development of gastroenteritis, the symptoms of which appear already in the first day of development.
Features:
- vomiting profusely;
- dizziness;
- blood impurities in faeces;
- prolonged diarrhea;
- nausea;
- abdominal muscle cramps.
The form of the development of the disease can vary from mild to extremely severe. This increases the risk of severe loss of body fluid against the background of profuse vomiting anddiarrhea. Therefore, it is important to observe the water regime, since a significant loss of moisture can be deadly for humans.
In children
For children, a harmful microorganism poses an increased danger, since the child's immune system is not fully formed and does not have the ability to fully resist this agent. As a result, the pathogen is able to spread freely throughout the body, negatively affecting the growth and development of the baby.
What is the danger of Staphylococcus aureus in children? With the defeat of the skin, the formation of diaper rash, boils, carbuncles, prickly heat, dermatitis is possible. But the most dangerous consequence of a staphylococcal lesion is toxic shock syndrome, which can lead to complete kidney dysfunction in a child.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women are also at risk, because during the period of gestation, their immune system partially loses its protective functions due to hormonal failure.
Is Staphylococcus aureus dangerous for a pregnant woman? The pathogen is able to freely overcome the placental barrier, which leads to damage to the amniotic membranes and the fetus itself. In most cases, this ends in a miscarriage.
When staphylococcus is detected in the vagina of a pregnant woman, treatment is mandatory, even in the absence of signs of inflammation. This is necessary so that the child cannot become infected during the passage of the birth canal.
Danger of pathology for the baby
Due to the widespread spread of the microbemeeting with him can occur in the first days of a child's life. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out how dangerous Staphylococcus aureus is in infants in order to assess the degree of danger of infection.
Most often, the pathogen provokes the development of the following pathologies in the baby:
- Pemphigus. It is characterized by the formation of vesicles on the skin filled with pus. The affected areas cause pain, which negatively affects the well-being of the child.
- Ritter's disease, or scalded skin syndrome. It is characterized by extensive lesions on the body, which leads to exfoliation of the upper layer of the epidermis.
General symptoms
The characteristic signs of Staphylococcus aureus lesion differ depending on the type of disease it causes. But there are also general symptoms that help to recognize the pathological process at the initial stage of development:
- Local increase in body temperature. It is this sign that allows you to accurately determine which organ has been affected by Staphylococcus aureus. An increase in temperature in a separate part of the body is the body's response to the introduction of a pathogen in order to prevent its further spread.
- Hyperemia of infected areas. It is formed as a result of an active rush of blood to the site of inflammation. In this case, the vessels expand, and the outflow of venous blood is reduced. Thus, the body tries to increase the flow of oxygen to the problem area in order to neutralize the toxic effect of the bacteria.
- Violation of the functionality of individual tissues and organs due to theirdamage at the cellular level.
- Pain when touched. This symptom is due to compression of the nerve endings by adjacent edematous tissues. Pain can also be caused by excess blood flow to the inflamed area.
- Swelling of tissues. This symptom develops due to an increase in the permeability of blood vessels.
General symptoms of Staphylococcus aureus infection may differ between adults and children. Therefore, only an experienced specialist can establish the diagnosis and cause of inflammation.
Routes of infection
Infection can enter the body when the integrity of the mucous membrane and skin is damaged, as it is an integral part of the human microflora. You can also become infected with Staphylococcus aureus with poor-quality food and through close contact with a carrier of the bacterium.
Specialists identify several main ways of transmitting bacteria:
- Contact household. In this case, you can become infected when using someone else's towel or other personal items. Moreover, the infection can provoke a purulent process or infiltrate the body, which will make a person its carrier.
- Airborne. A sick person, when coughing, sneezing, or simply breathing, releases a bacterium into the air, while it can enter the respiratory tract of a nearby person.
- Artificial way. The infection enters the body through insufficiently processed medical instruments. But it often happens that the necessaryobjects were disinfected in the usual way, and the mutant species of Staphylococcus aureus managed to develop resistance to the action of disinfectants.
- Fecal-oral. Isolation of infection occurs through vomit or faeces. At the same time, infection of a he althy person can occur if hygiene is not observed by a sick person, who may have bacteria on his hands, and when shaking hands, the bacterium spreads further.
- Air-dust. Staphylococcus aureus is able to maintain its viability for a long time in the environment, and in particular in dust. Therefore, when these microparticles are inhaled, infection occurs.
Complications and consequences
To understand the level of danger, you should understand how dangerous Staphylococcus aureus is for a person in the absence of timely and adequate treatment:
- Meningitis. In this case, a harmful pathogen provokes purulent inflammation of the lining of the brain. The pathological process is accompanied by high fever, unbearable headache, nausea, convulsions, vomiting. A lethal outcome is possible even with timely therapy. The mortality rate is 30% of all diagnosed cases.
- Blood poisoning. The pathological process develops as a result of infection entering the bloodstream, followed by the active production of toxins. Staphylococcal sepsis is a deadly disease. At the same time, the patient has a body temperature of about 40 degrees, profuse vomiting,nausea, as well as dysfunction of the lungs, liver, intestines, brain. Initiated therapy without a preliminary antibiogram can be fatal for a person.
- Endocarditis. The disease is characterized by damage to the heart valves and the inner layer of the organ. Pathology is characterized by tachycardia, joint pain, decreased performance. Often, endocarditis is simultaneously combined with meningitis and heart failure, which greatly complicates the patient's well-being.
- Toxic shock syndrome. This pathological process is a kind of shock reaction of the immune system to the introduction of a pathogen. In this case, the patient has a high body temperature, profuse vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure. All this in combination threatens with the probability of death.
Based on the complications that can develop when a pathogen enters the body, one can understand why Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous in the nose, mouth or any other organ. After all, the infection is able to spread throughout the body as soon as possible, without encountering any obstacles in its path.
Diagnosis
To detect a staphylococcal infection in the body, it is necessary to undergo certain types of research. However, a positive test result is not a confirmation of the presence of the disease. The test is carried out only when characteristic pathological symptoms appear, which indicates the body's reaction to the introduction of the pathogen.
Main typesresearch:
- smear from the throat, nose in case of damage to the upper respiratory tract;
- fecal analysis for bowel disorders;
- skin scraping for dermatological diseases;
- blood test to rule out or confirm infection;
- urinalysis in the development of cystitis.
Treatment
Therapy is prescribed by the attending physician only after an antibiogram. This helps to identify the resistance of the pathogen to a particular type of drug. In this case, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the prescribed flow pattern and take the drugs not until the symptoms are eliminated, but not less than 5 days. It is strictly forbidden to interrupt treatment on your own.
The main types of drugs for the treatment of staphylococcal infections.
- "Amoxicillin". Depressing effect on the pathogen, prevents its further development. The drug blocks the synthesis of peptidoglycan. Reception is carried out three times a day, regardless of food, 1 g at a time.
- "Vancomycin". It blocks the component that enters the cell membrane of the infection, which causes the death of the pathogen. The drug is administered intravenously every 6 or 12 hours at the discretion of the physician.
- "Cefazolin". The medicine has a wide spectrum of action. Its main function is to block the production of infection cell wall components. Administered intramuscularly or intravenously every 3 hours.
- "Oxacillin". Effective in the later stages of pathogen development. Introduced intramuscularly,intravenously, orally.
- "Clarithromycin". Prevents the production of proteins of harmful microorganisms. It is taken as a tablet, but is administered intravenously for severe disease.
Knowing the dangers of Staphylococcus aureus infection, it should be understood that any self-medication threatens with serious he alth complications.
Prevention
Preventive measures are the main method of combating the uncontrolled spread of Staphylococcus aureus. Following simple rules will help to avoid serious he alth problems.
Main recommendations:
- Timely elimination of inflammatory processes in the body.
- Maintaining cleanliness in the apartment, at the workplace.
- Regular washing and ironing clothes.
- Periodic room ventilation.
- Balanced nutrition.
- Rejection of bad habits.
- Regular outdoor walks for 20-30 minutes.
- Maintain personal hygiene.
- Timely treatment of wounds in violation of the integrity of the skin.
- Use only pure and high-quality products.
- Do not visit dubious institutions that provide manicure, tattoo, solarium services.
Staphylococcus aureus is an integral part of the human microflora. And everyone sooner or later encounters this pathogen throughout their lives. But how dangerous it will be depends on the person himself, since the infection does not doze off even when weakened.immunity is active. Therefore, knowing how dangerous Staphylococcus aureus is, it is worth observing simple preventive measures, and then the pathogen will have no chance.
