Purulent-septic diseases are a group of ailments that provoke pathogenic bacteria. Unpleasant symptoms most often develop against the background of a weakened immune system of the patient. When ingested, bacteria begin to multiply rapidly. As a result, the patient develops signs of inflammation, requiring immediate medical attention. Purulent-septic infections in surgery occupy a special place. Most of the emergency patients seek help with these diseases.
Gram-positive bacteria
Purulent-septic infection is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms that can normally be present in the body of any person. Unpleasant symptoms develop when the pathogenic microflora begins to multiply rapidly against the background of a decrease in the patient's immunity.
The most common are staphylococci. These are opportunistic microbes that can cause septic,respiratory and intestinal diseases. Staphylococcal infection can affect any organs and tissues with a decrease in protective forces. The infection most often proceeds in the form of a local purulent inflammatory process. When a pathogenic microbe enters the gastrointestinal tract, symptoms of poisoning appear. Can lead to the development of unpleasant complications of staphylococcus aureus. What is this disease? In fact, this is a whole range of ailments. Staphylococcus aureus can cause sepsis with an increased risk of death. Therefore, if any unpleasant symptoms appear, you should seek help.
Streptococci are also potentially pathogenic microorganisms that can multiply rapidly in conditions of reduced immunity. They grow especially well with elevated blood glucose levels. Streptococcal pneumonia often affects patients with diabetes mellitus. The source of infection is most often a sick person. However, close contact does not mean that you will have to face unpleasant symptoms. Immunity matters a lot.
When a staph infection can also affect any organs and tissues. Sepsis often develops against the background of infection.
Enterococci are Gram-positive bacteria. Physiologically, they are very similar to streptococci. Often enterococci provoke diseases of the urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis), bacterial endocarditis. Although normally enterococci are even useful. They take part in the maintenance of normal intestinal microflora, inhibit the activity of other pathogenic microorganisms.
Gram-negative bacteria
Salmonella are dangerous microorganisms. It is they who act as the causative agent of typhoid fever. This is a genus of non-spore-bearing rod-shaped bacteria. These organisms are Gram-negative. When ingested, they cause dangerous symptoms. Delayed care can lead to the death of the patient.
Many gram-negative bacteria can exist in the human body for a long time without making itself felt. Any blow to the immune system is a great opportunity for conditionally pathogenic microflora. Such bacteria begin to multiply rapidly during hypothermia, stressful situations, emotional overstrain, overwork, etc.
There are many subspecies of Gram-negative bacteria. The main causative agents of GSI have been discussed above. The following microorganisms are less common: pseudomonads, spirochetes, brucella, francisella, etc. They can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The most dangerous are gram-negative rods and cocci, chlamydia, helicobacteria.
GSI surround man everywhere. Simple preventive measures, which will be described below, will help protect yourself from the development of dangerous diseases.
Laboratory diagnostics
A qualified specialist can make a preliminary diagnosis if a patient has unpleasant symptoms. However, it will not be possible to start therapy until the pathogen that provoked the pathological process is identified. Methods for diagnosing an infectionthere are different ones. When purulent inflammation is detected, a microbiological study is mandatory. This is necessary in order to determine the sensitivity of pathogenic microflora to the selected antibiotic. Diagnosis is carried out using the immunofluorescence reaction.
Biological material is taken in a special way for research in case of purulent infections of the skin. All manipulations are performed under conditions of complete sterility during surgery or surgery. The skin around the affected surface is treated with an antiseptic. Discharge is taken from the main lesion with a syringe.
If streptococcal pneumonia is suspected, a bacteriological examination of bronchial secretions is performed. In this case, it is important to carry out bacterial culture even before the start of therapy with antibiotics. A single portion of sputum is collected in the morning on an empty stomach.
To determine if there is an infection in the body, a rapid test for streptococcus will also help. A study can be prescribed if the patient has a breakdown, the patient often complains of dizziness. Streptococcal infections often affect preschool children. Microbiological examination can be carried out if the child suffers from acute respiratory infections more than five times a year.
The streptococcus test is very simple. All manipulations can be performed on an outpatient basis right in the doctor's office. All that needs to be done is to take a smear from the patient's oral mucosa. The biological material is further investigated inlaboratory conditions using special reagents.
Research in gastrointestinal diseases
Pain in the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite - these symptoms may indicate the presence of an infection in the body. Most often, patients are first assigned to general tests of urine, blood and feces. If the level of opportunistic microorganisms is exceeded, it will be possible to find out.
Meningitis, chronic gastritis, endocarditis - with all these pathologies, the content of enterococcus in the feces will be exceeded. In this case, treatment with the use of antibiotics will be relevant. Often problems are detected in infants who use artificial nutrition.
In intestinal infections, the pathogen is isolated from vomit and feces. In some cases, bacteria can be detected in the water used for gastric lavage. Identification of the pathogen can be carried out thanks to sowing on nutrient media.
Factors of transmission of purulent-septic infection
Possibly pathogenic microflora is normally present in the body of any person. If one family member has symptoms of an infectious process, this does not mean that the rest will get sick. However, close contact with the patient is recommended to be limited. It is recommended to ventilate the room where the patient is located.
Much more risk of infection with intraclinical infection. The leading route of transmission is contact. These are the hands of medical personnel, textiles, furnishings. In this regard, special attention is paid to sanitaryhygiene measures. Medical staff must follow the rules of personal hygiene - wash their hands with soap and treat them with an antiseptic after contact with each new patient. It is also important to exclude the introduction of infection into the hospital. After receiving the patient, the oilcloth on the couch is treated with a disinfectant solution.
Purulent-septic infections (PSI) are easily transmitted by contact. Patients with a weakened immune system who are in a hospital setting are at risk. Therefore, special attention is paid to the cleanliness of the hands of medical personnel. Hygiene procedures must be carried out before and after any manipulations with the patient. In addition, special sterile gloves should be used.
How to stop the spread of purulent-septic infection? Hygiene requirements by medical personnel must be observed without fail. In this case, it will be possible to significantly reduce the rapid spread of pathogenic microflora.
Streptococcal infections
This is a whole group of diseases that develop as a result of the rapid multiplication of streptococcal flora. These pathologies are very dangerous for their complications. The downside is that streptococci are resistant to the environment. These microorganisms can easily exist at low and high temperatures. They die in a hot environment only after 30 minutes. Under the action of chemical disinfectants (antiseptics), streptococci die only after 15 minutes.
A sick person is a carrier of streptococcal infection. pathogenicmicroflora is transmitted by airborne droplets. The patient secretes bacteria when coughing, sneezing. You can get infected even while talking with a carrier of the infection. The most contagious are patients in whom the upper respiratory tract is affected. It is easy to get infected with angina, scarlet fever. At the same time, at a distance of more than three meters, pathogenic microflora will no longer be transmitted. Therefore, limiting contact with an affected person is the best preventive measure. The patient can wear a special sterile mask.
Significantly increases the risk of purulent complications in patients with burns, wounds. Streptococcal infection often develops in patients after surgery. Therefore, in a hospital, it is especially important to comply with all hygiene standards. Pregnant women and newborns are also at risk due to weakened immunity.
Streptococcus can manifest itself in different ways. Purulent-septic infections are often found on the upper respiratory tract, the hearing aid. Such diseases are especially common in pediatrics. Children may suffer from purulent otitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis. Streptoderma deserves special attention. In this disease, the clinical manifestations of streptococcal infection are observed on the patient's skin in the form of vesicles, spots, purulent elements.
In the absence of high-quality treatment, pathogenic microflora begins to rapidly develop on the internal organs. Streptococcal pneumonia is a particular danger to life. In this case, the infection affects the mucous membranelungs. The disease may be the result of undertreated ARVI. Especially often with such a pathology there are patients in the fall or spring. In a damp environment, pathogens multiply faster.
Clinically, streptococcal pneumonia is manifested by a strong cough, symptoms of general intoxication of the body, chest pain. During coughing, sputum with purulent contents is released. The disease can cause serious complications that threaten the life of the patient. Therefore, seek medical attention immediately.
Staph infection
What is this disease - staphylococcus aureus? In fact, this is not a disease itself, but an opportunistic microflora that provokes the development of unpleasant symptoms. Most often, staphylococcus is the cause of the development of purulent skin lesions. Furunculosis is a common disease in which the hair follicle becomes inflamed, as well as the surrounding tissue. The disease often develops in patients who do not comply with hygiene standards. Also at risk are weakened people who have had other dangerous diseases. Furunculosis can develop against the background of influenza, acute respiratory infections.
Reduced immunity can also be caused by chronic diseases, endocrine disorders, prolonged hormonal therapy, etc. The penetration of pathogenic microflora into the hair follicle can be caused by mechanical damage to the skin. In this regard, any wound is important to properly treat with an antiseptic. There is an increased risk of developing a staph infection on the skin in patients with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Other dermatological pathologies can also provoke infection - eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis.
In some cases, the presence of infection in the body may not manifest itself. It is possible to identify staphylococcus in the blood during the next preventive examination. This situation is potentially dangerous and should not be ignored. With the blood flow, pathogenic microflora can spread throughout the body. Increases the risk of extensive infection - sepsis. With a significant decrease in immunity, the infection can affect the meninges. Meningitis is a dangerous disease that often ends in death.
A staphylococcal infection in an advanced stage is not always quickly removed from the body. Antibiotics are selected taking into account the sensitivity of pathogenic microflora. In some cases, you have to change the drug several times, and the treatment itself lasts for months.
Typhoid fever
This is an acute intestinal infection that leads to the development of dangerous symptoms. The lymphatic system and intestines are predominantly affected. The causative agent of typhoid fever is salmonella. Pathogenic microflora can remain viable in the environment for several months. A favorable environment for the reproduction of salmonella are some foods - milk, eggs, minced meat. This pathogenic gram-negative bacillus easily tolerates freezing. But chemical and heat treatment is detrimental to bacteria.
As in the case of other purulent-septic infections, the pathogen is excreted in the urine andfeces. The source of typhus is a sick person. The release of the pathogen into the environment occurs already at the end of the incubation period, when the patient himself does not yet have unpleasant symptoms. In rare cases, the disease becomes chronic. In this case, a person will spread the infection throughout his life.
Purulent-septic infections are easily transmitted in the household environment. Hygiene requirements must be observed. The route of Salmonella infection is water and food. So, after each visit to the toilet, you must thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Infection can also occur when drinking water contaminated with feces (rivers, lakes, other water bodies). In the summer-autumn period, there is a peak incidence.
The incubation period of the disease does not exceed two weeks. The first unpleasant symptoms may appear as early as five days after infection. The patient has a fever, symptoms of general intoxication of the body. But purulent-septic infections are not limited to a general deterioration in well-being. Typhus is accompanied by blanching of the skin, rashes. The patient has problems with defecation, the internal organs increase.
Typhoid fever is dangerous for its complications. Some patients experience intestinal bleeding, acute anemia develops. A patient with even minor manifestations of typhus must be hospitalized. Therapy is carried out using antibiotics. In parallel, vaccination may be prescribed.
Enterococcal infection
There are more than 15various types of enterococci. These microorganisms do not always lead to the development of unpleasant symptoms. However, their level in the body should be monitored. If enterococci are detected in the stool, an additional examination may be prescribed. Often, an increase in indicators is observed in preschool children. This situation may be due to a decrease in the body's defenses against the background of hypothermia, taking medications. A significant increase in the number of enterococci in the body can cause diseases such as cystitis, meningitis, otitis media, gastritis, etc.
Fecal analysis is not the only way to determine a particular disorder. Additionally, the patient's urine and blood are examined. Instrumental techniques can also be used.
To start adequate therapy, it is initially necessary to determine the type of enterococcus that caused the disease. The medication is selected taking into account the sensitivity of the microflora, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body, age must be taken into account.
Prevention of purulent-septic infections
The development of any disease is easier to prevent than to carry out therapy later. The general characteristics of purulent-septic infections show that the ways of transmission of pathogenic microflora can be different. This is the airborne way, and close contact, and blood. To exclude the development of epidemics, both individual and general prevention should be carried out.
Individual prevention consists inleading a he althy lifestyle. A person should strengthen the body's defenses - eat right, spend more time outdoors, have a good rest, give up bad habits. It is important to observe the rules of personal hygiene and timely wet cleaning of the room in which a person spends most of his time.
Community prevention includes the creation of conditions under which teams can fully carry out their activities. At factories, in educational institutions, in offices, immunoprophylactic vaccinations can be performed. If one infected person is identified, a quarantine is declared to limit the spread of the infection. The risk of epidemics will be reduced if absolutely everyone follows simple preventive measures.
