Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common problems faced by adults and children. We are talking about Staphylococcus aureus - an immobile aerobic bacterium, which is the causative agent of various diseases. Most often, the disease strikes at an early age.
This microorganism got its name because of the specific golden glow that occurs when sown on a nutrient medium. Like many other representatives of pathogenic microflora, Staphylococcus aureus is able to exist in the air, has a spherical shape (coccus in Greek means "spherical"). By the way, under a microscope, a bacterium is similar to a bunch of grapes - this is easy to explain the first part of its name (staphyle - "bunch").
An aerobic microorganism is widely distributed in the environment. In fact, it is present on every surface, household item, children's toy, and even medical instruments. An insignificant amount of Staphylococcus aureus, the symptoms and treatment of which cause a lot of inconvenience, can befound even in "sterile" breast milk and on the skin of any he althy person.
Is this microbe dangerous
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus is required only when its number exceeds the norm. It is present in the body of each of us, but here is the peculiarity: a staphylococcal infection is not the lot of absolutely he althy people. In a person with strong immunity, the “beneficial” microflora suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria and does not allow them to show their pathogenic nature. In the event of a weakening of the protective forces, the microbe is activated and becomes the causative agent of certain diseases. The most dangerous are meningitis and blood poisoning.
Staphylococcus aureus disease (treatment in adults usually involves antibiotics) is due to three factors:
- This microbe is highly resistant to antiseptic agents and environmental influences. The bacterium does not die even after ten minutes of boiling, drying, freezing, treatment with ethyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide.
- Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in children without antibiotics will not give any tangible result. At the same time, the peculiarity of this bacterium lies in the ability to produce penicillinase and lidase, enzymes that protect it from the action of almost all antibiotics of the penicillin series. Penicillinase and lidase easily penetrate the cells of the epidermis, including through the sweat glands, and make their way deep into the body.
- Staphylococcus aureus produces endotoxin, a substance that leads to food poisoning and general intoxication syndrome. In severe cases, staphylococcal infection can threaten the development of fulminant toxic shock.
It is impossible not to mention the fact that a person does not develop immunity to Staphylococcus aureus. The patient, once having had a bacterial infection, is not protected from re-infection. The only way to minimize the risk of infection is to practice good personal hygiene and avoid contact with sick people.
In a special risk group for the disease, newborns and children of the first year of life. Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in infants is associated with a number of difficulties due to the low effectiveness of existing antibacterial drugs and the serious side effects they cause. In polyclinics and inpatient medical facilities, the concentration of staphylococcus in the environment usually exceeds the norm - you should always remember this when going to see a doctor.
Reasons
It's simple: the causative agent of the same name mentioned above can provoke the development of a staphylococcal infection. Infection with a microbe occurs when immunity is reduced. The following factors usually contribute to the weakening of the body's defenses:
- long-term use of antibiotics or steroids;
- stressful situations, strong emotional upheavals;
- unbalanced diet;
- seasonal or pathological beriberi;
- presence in the body of a focus of chronic inflammation;
- intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- ignoring the rules of personal hygiene;
- premature birth;
- artificial feeding;
- late latch on.
Types of infection
Conventionally distinguish between generalized and local form of infection of children and adults with Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment, symptoms in patients and the nature of the course of the infection largely depend on its type. The most difficult and dangerous is the generalized form (septicopyemia and septicocemia). Local varieties of infection require the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the intestines, joints, respiratory tract, mammary glands, mucous membranes, and skin. A separate category includes food poisoning caused by bacteria endotoxin.
It is also important to note that staphylococcal infection can be primary and secondary. According to the course of the disease, acute and chronic forms are distinguished.
Symptoms caused by a pathogenic bacterium
The treatment regimen for Staphylococcus aureus in adults and children also depends on the location of the pathogenic focus of infection in the body and the severity of symptoms. The clinical picture, in turn, is determined by the degree of weakening of the immune system and the site of the lesion. Common features of a staphylococcal infection include:
- feverish, chills;
- pronounced intoxication syndrome;
- lethargy and general weakness;
- lack of appetite;
- small rashes on the body.
Umbilical wound microbe damage
This disease is called omphalitis, occurs in newborns. A characteristic feature is the swelling of the umbilical ring, the presence of purulent discharge from the wound. In the absence of timely treatment of Staphylococcus aureus, the umbilical vein is involved in the pathological process - when probed, it seems to be thickened. The hyperemia of the surrounding skin becomes visually noticeable.
Skin infection
As already mentioned, Staphylococcus aureus is normally present on the skin of every person, therefore, speaking of infection with this bacterial infection, they mean the secondary form of the disease. Favorable conditions for the reproduction of Staphylococcus aureus against the background of weakened immunity are:
- Pseudofurunculosis (damage to the sweat glands). Pathology is characterized by the appearance of dense reddish nodules in skin folds, places where sweat glands accumulate. When staphylococcus is activated, suppuration of tissues occurs.
- Vesiculopustulosis. It is characterized by the formation of vesicles with exudative contents, which open spontaneously, thereby creating pathways for the penetration of staphylococcus.
- Exfoliative dermatitis. Doctors call this disease "scalded skin syndrome", as it externally manifests itself as huge blisters that resemble burn marks. After some time, the skin begins to peel off, open wounds appear, inthat gets staph.
- Abscess and phlegmon - damage to the deep layers of the epidermis or subcutaneous tissue with noticeable hyperemia and induration. Penetration of Staphylococcus aureus into the cavity contributes to the development of inflammation and suppuration.
- Panaritium is a disease characterized by inflammation of the extreme phalanges of the fingers.
Eye mucosa
The development of conjunctivitis when a bacterium enters the mucous membrane causes a number of pathological symptoms. Patients complain of symptoms such as:
- photophobia;
- intense lacrimation;
- puffiness of the eyelids;
- redness of the sclera;
- presence of purulent discharge.
For the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus, which provoked conjunctivitis, antibacterial and combined eye drops are used, eyes are washed with antiseptic preparations, potassium permanganate solution.
Respiratory tract injury
The need for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the throat and nose will be prompted by a number of symptoms that can easily be confused with a cold. In most cases, patients do not even realize that they are not just sick with a protracted acute respiratory disease, but their respiratory tract is affected by a bacterial infection. You need to get tested and start treating Staphylococcus aureus in the nose and throat if:
- a runny nose does not go away for more than 10 days;
- Feels sore throat when swallowing;
- diagnosed with redness and swelling of the tonsils;
- increased lymphnodes;
- there is a persistent low-grade fever;
- feeling general weakness and malaise.
You can't ignore the symptoms of a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. Without treatment for Staphylococcus aureus in the throat in adults and children, complications can begin as the infection spreads throughout the body. In severe cases, airway stenosis may also develop.
Staphylococcal meningitis
By penetrating into the bloodstream, a pathogenic bacterium can enter the brain. Most often, this complication occurs in children with immunodeficiency. Meningitis and brain abscess are life-threatening diseases that are extremely difficult, with high fever and intoxication. A lumbar puncture is performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Infection of other organs and systems
In addition to the above complications caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureus, it is possible to damage the urinary tract, joints, and gastrointestinal tract.
The bacterium is capable of provoking urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, the characteristic symptoms of which are: frequent urination with pain, aching pain in the lower back, high fever. In the urine of such patients, protein is present, the permissible number of leukocytes is exceeded, and bakposev confirms the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the urinary tract.
When bones and joints become infected, arthritis and osteomyelitis develop. Food intoxication and intestinal damage is another common scenario for the development of events aftereating contaminated or spoiled food. Poisoning occurs with symptoms of acute enterocolitis: fever, nausea, frequent vomiting and loose greenish stools.
Research
The most common diagnostic methods used to confirm the diagnosis:
- laboratory clinical blood test (specialists pay attention to the indicators of leukocytes, neutrophils, ESR);
- general urinalysis (infection is evidenced by protein, an increased number of leukocytes);
- bacteriological seeding of biological material on nutrient media (detection of pathogenic microflora).
The last type of study is carried out in order to identify the pathogen, establish its sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics of various spectrums.
Laboratory analysis of faeces may also indicate the need for treatment for Staphylococcus aureus. In the feces, the sowing of which is carried out no later than 3 hours after a bowel movement, mucus and bacteria are found.
Smears from the mucous membranes of the throat and nose are taken on an empty stomach, before taking medications and brushing the teeth; for conjunctivitis, samples are taken from the lower eyelid using a sterile swab moistened with distilled water. To confirm a staphylococcal infection of the skin, smears are taken after pre-treatment of the epidermis around the wound with antimicrobial solutions and removal of dead particles.
Therapy
The treatment regimen is selected depending onlocalization of the lesion. Therapy of staphylococcal infections in children and adults is carried out by infectious disease doctors. In most cases, patients with Staphylococcus aureus are hospitalized.
In mild forms of the disease, antibiotics are not prescribed. In case of deterioration of he alth and severity of the clinical picture, treatment begins with the use of semi-synthetic penicillins ("Amoxiclav"). Ceftriaxone and Kefzol, which are prescribed for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, are usually ineffective due to the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillins and cephalosporins.
The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease, skin lesions or internal organs. In the normal course of the infection, it takes 7-14 days to completely destroy the pathogenic microflora, but in some cases, treatment can take up to several months.
Pyoinflammatory diseases of the epidermis with the addition of staphylococcal infection are indications for prescribing the topical antibiotic "Mupirocin" and pleuromutilin derivatives. With a mild course of the disease, the wounds are treated with antiseptics (a solution of brilliant green, manganese, hydrogen peroxide) and antibacterial ointments (Bactroban, Tetracycline, Oxycort). In case of development of abscesses or phlegmon, abscesses are surgically opened to drain the pus.
In case of food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotics are not prescribed, only Staphylococcal Anatoxin is used. Besides,the patient must wash the stomach and replenish the volume of circulating blood with drip infusions and oral administration of saline solutions (glucose solution, sodium chloride, Regidron, etc.). For the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus and the prevention of intestinal dysbacteriosis, it is recommended to use antifungal drugs ("Diflucan", "Nystatin") simultaneously with antibiotics. In parallel, with any localization of a bacterial lesion, the patient is prescribed immunomodulators, vitamin-mineral complexes.
How to deal with a respiratory infection
Special attention deserves the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the throat and nose. As soon as the antibiotic resistance of the pathogen that has affected the body is determined, therapy can begin. You can fight staphylococcus with the help of special antimicrobial solutions, sprays, drops, infusions. In case of a complicated course, you will have to resort to the use of antistaphylococcal drugs.
Chlorophyllipt oil drops are suitable for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose in adults and children. By the way, it is recommended to rinse the nasal cavity and gargle with the same alcohol solution. For the same purpose, Furacilin is prescribed - an antiseptic drug (1-2 tablets are used per glass of hot boiled water). To strengthen local immunity, the drug "IRS-19" is used.
Analgesics and antipyretics are used when indicated (fever, headache). Also, with a bacterial infection, it is necessary to increase the daily intake of fluid.
