Staphylococcus in a child - description, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

About the disease

A diagnosed staphylococcal infection requires mandatory treatment. The bacterium causes quite dangerous diseases, which are characterized by purulent lesions of the skin, mucous membrane of the digestive tract, respiratory organs and even bone tissue. It is important to take into account the fact that the manifestation of the disease largely depends on the type of staphylococcus that caused the inflammation.

Moreover, the intensity of the pathological process is directly related to the functioning of the immune system. Doctors regularly observe an increase in the number of infections among newborns. Experts attribute this to a lack of production of the natural IgA factor, which is responsible for protecting the mucous membrane in various parts of the body.

Treatment of the disease

Staphylococcal infections are difficult to treat, especially in children. The earlier the disease is detected, the greater the likelihood that the child will soon become healthy.

Therapy includes the following activities:

Local treatment. This is the treatment of rashes and pustules.
Antibiotics. Staphylococcus is very adaptable and difficult to treat with antibiotics. However, penicillin drugs are often prescribed.
Lubricating, rinsing - this treatment is effective for staphylococcus in the nose and throat.
Vitamin and mineral complexes.
Immunomodulators.
Blood or plasma transfusions. Prescribed in severe cases, with sepsis.
Operation. In cases of severe chronic tonsillitis, the tonsils are removed. The operation is also prescribed for multiple skin lesions with profuse inflammation and exudate.

Staphylococcal infection at an early age

If a child has Staphylococcus aureus in the throat, nose, skin or stool, this does not indicate the presence of the disease. The bacteria becomes a problem only when a doctor has diagnosed a staphylococcal infection, accompanied by the formation of characteristic symptoms.

Pediatricians consider the main danger to be the presence of a purulent process in the structure of the skin and mucous membranes. If they are not treated on time, the disease becomes more severe. For example, purulent foci can form in the organs, leading to severe toxicosis and even blood poisoning (staphylococcal sepsis).

The manifestation of Staphylococcus aureus in newborns largely depends on the functioning of the immune system and the presence of concomitant diseases. The number of bacteria that have managed to develop in the child’s body is also important. In addition, the very age of the infant predisposes to higher sensitivity to the pathogen. This is especially true for premature babies.

Who's at risk

Generally speaking, this includes all babies under the age of one year, since their immune system is just being formed and cannot cope with pathogens on its own.

The most vulnerable groups of children, whose risk of infection increases by 50-70 percent compared to their peers, include:

born prematurely;
having a critical body weight at birth;
those who underwent surgery in the first year of life;
having congenital defects and developmental pathologies;
those who are bottle-fed;
often sick;
recently vaccinated;
not receiving sufficient hygienic care.

The main cause of staphylococcal infection is decreased immunity.

If the child is strong, healthy, and his immune system works well, then the body will cope with the bacteria on its own, and more precisely, it will not allow opportunistic organisms to grow, multiply and leave their waste products.

Types of pathogens

Staphylococcal infection can be caused by different strains of staphylococcus:

Hemolytic - most often the respiratory organs become the target of damage. It can cause the development of purulent sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and many other inflammatory diseases. This type of pathogen is very resistant and difficult to treat.
Staphylococcus aureus - this microorganism exhibits resistance to many penicillin antibiotics, as well as to antiseptic solutions, heat treatment and exposure to direct sunlight. It causes many skin pathologies: eczema, furunculosis and abscesses. Bacteria also affect the gastrointestinal tract, upper respiratory tract, and in severe stages of the disease can lead to toxic shock.
Staphylococcus epidermidis - is localized on the skin and mucous membranes and does not harm either children or adults. However, if the pathogen enters the bloodstream of a patient with a weakened immune system, it can lead to the development of inflammation in the inner lining of the heart.
Saprophytic - this species is considered the least dangerous. At the same time, it causes general intoxication of the body, which develops under the influence of bacterial waste products. They most often affect the urethra and bladder in female patients. If timely treatment is not carried out when a pathogen enters, the bacteria can infect the kidneys and cause problems with conception.

Why is Staphylococcus aureus dangerous for babies?

Staphylococcus in itself does not pose a threat to the child, since it is part of his natural microflora. But this only applies to healthy children with a good defense system.

If the baby’s health is undermined (for example, by a cold), then favorable conditions are created in the body for the growth of a pathogenic mass of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus. This type of microorganism can provoke the appearance of any diseases, as it is localized on the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, intestines, stomach, etc.

If the infection is not treated completely, serious complications may occur, for example:

chronic conjunctivitis;
pneumonia;
inflammation of the meninges (meningitis);
blood poisoning as a result of Staphylococcus aureus entering it (sepsis);
otitis;
sinusitis;
damage to internal organs.

Sepsis and meningitis are extremely serious diseases for infants, which can result in the death of the child. For this reason, you should not self-medicate - you should immediately contact your pediatrician if any symptoms indicating the presence of staphylococcus appear.

Symptoms of staphylococcus

In children, staphylococcal infection can manifest itself in different ways. If the immune system is sufficiently active, then there may be no symptoms, but laboratory testing reveals the presence of the pathogen in the blood. Therefore, the severity of the disease largely depends on immunity, the age of the child, the type of bacterial strain and the volume of the pathogen in the body.

There are two forms of staphylococcal infection:

Early. This form of the disease makes itself felt within a few hours after the penetration of Staphylococcus aureus. The onset of the disease is acute and severe. Staphylococcus in a child causes fever, diarrhea and vomiting. The baby becomes drowsy and lethargic, and loses his appetite.
Late. This form of the disease begins to appear 3–5 days after the penetration of staphylococcus. Typically, the infectious process begins to primarily affect the skin. Further, if treatment is not started, the pathology begins to develop and penetrates deeper into the internal organs, which can lead to sepsis.

Parents need to pay close attention to a number of characteristic symptoms that may indicate that the child has Staphylococcus aureus:

loss of appetite;
body temperature increased;
the normal rhythm of sleep is disrupted;
there is general weakness, drowsiness;
the tonsils are enlarged and the throat is red;
pustules, boils or carbuncles have formed on the skin;
nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain and diarrhea appeared;
a local inflammatory process has developed in the oral mucosa and conjunctiva of the eye;
red rashes or areas of pigmentation appear, which are accompanied by itching.

What is staphylococcus

It is a nonmotile, spherical, Gram-positive microorganism that forms numerous colonies. Staphylococci are anaerobic - they can exist and reproduce without oxygen, in a closed environment. There are more than twenty strains of bacteria. Some of them are quite harmless, while others cause powerful pathological reactions in the human body. Parts of the body and organs most vulnerable to staphylococci:

leather;
mucous membranes;
connective tissue;
subcutaneous tissue;
nerve tissue;
heart muscle.

By infecting them, microbes produce toxic substances and provoke inflammation, which in severe cases leads to sepsis, irreversible changes in structures or permanent dysfunction.

How does a staphylococcal infection manifest?

Staphylococcus in children can cause a large number of different diseases. All of them are very dangerous for the child’s life. Therefore, parents should immediately contact their pediatrician if symptoms characteristic of staphylococcus appear.

What diseases can develop when staphylococcus enters the body:

1. Enterocolitis.

With this disease, the child experiences frequent diarrhea - up to 15 bowel movements per day. The stool is watery and mushy. The baby often spits up and cries. Abdominal bloating is observed. When Staphylococcus aureus enters the body, the baby's temperature rises. Vomiting may begin, which causes rapid dehydration.

2. Infectious conjunctivitis.

In this case, a staph infection manifests itself as redness of the eyes. The eyelids swell, the eyes water, and greenish-yellow crusts form, indicating the separation of pus. After sleep, it is difficult for a child to open his eyes, since the eyelashes are glued together with pus.

3. Pemphigus.

A large number of bubbles filled with cloudy contents appear on the baby’s skin. Most often they are localized in the lower abdomen, on the back and in the folds of the neck. The affected skin is swollen and hyperemic. The child is drowsy, lethargic, refuses to eat.

4. Multiple abscesses.

Specific elements form on the skin - red-purple pustules. If they are accidentally opened, yellow-green purulent discharge appears. Body temperature is increased. The child becomes lethargic and capricious.

5. Sepsis.

Depending on the course, the disease is divided into septicopyemia and septicemia. The first is characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the skin, in some cases abscesses form. With septicemia, the pathological process develops very rapidly: sudden weight loss, jaundice, tachycardia. The child becomes restless and may even experience seizures.

Forms of the disease and accompanying symptoms

Staphylococcus aureus on the skin

If this representative of the staphylococcus family infects the skin of infants, characteristic symptoms appear:

redness and peeling of the skin;
rashes that have a shiny tint;
blisters and pustules;
boils;
acne;
“scalded skin syndrome” (severe redness and swelling of individual areas of the skin with blisters filled with fluid or pus).

Similar phenomena occur as a result of the release of the toxic substance exfoliatin into the skin. In this case, it is very difficult to suspect staphylococcus, since outwardly it resembles the symptoms of urticaria, diathesis and dermatitis, which are often diagnosed in infants. It is impossible to determine it yourself, without conducting the necessary research.

If the baby becomes capricious and signs of an allergic reaction appear on the body, do not rush and give him antihistamines. It would be wiser to go to a children's clinic and get the necessary tests.

Infection on the mucous membranes

In such a situation, a baby develops inflammatory diseases of the eyes (conjunctivitis), nasopharynx and throat, which are accompanied by a high temperature and are quite acute, causing discomfort and pain.

Doctor's advice

Today, bacteriophages are the most optimal means of therapy, but have one drawback - price. The solution is used depending on the affected area - internally, externally in the form of lotions, rinsed the mouth with it and made enemas. The main advantage is that bacteriphages destroy staphylococcus, die and leave the body without being involved in other processes.

Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist

The signs are identical to ARVI and acute respiratory infections:

runny nose, nasal congestion;
cough, sneezing;
fever;
chills;
irritability and tearfulness.

Staphylococcus in the intestines

Enterocolitis is a common problem in infants infected with staphylococcus. The disease is accompanied by symptoms of intestinal poisoning, intoxication and eating disorders.

When staphylococcus occurs in the intestines, the following symptoms appear:

bloating;
frequent attacks of intestinal colic;
vomiting (not to be confused with regurgitation);
diarrhea (the stool is watery, bright yellow with greens);
pain in the abdominal area;
elevated temperature (up to 38.3-38.5 degrees).

Treatment of enterocolitis does not always require the use of antibiotics - in most cases, symptomatic treatment and taking bifid medications are sufficient.

Causes of staphylococcal infection

Staphylococcal infection is caused by a type of staphylococcus. Pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria enter the body and cause disease, especially if the baby’s immunity is reduced. Staphylococcus in the process of life produces toxins that negatively affect the functioning of human internal organs and systems.

Carriers of Staphylococcus aureus transmit the bacterial infection to a healthy child through airborne droplets or contact. Among schoolchildren, the infection most often occurs through the consumption of unwashed fruits and vegetables, and in infants - through the air.

How can a baby become infected?

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, most cases of staphylococcal infection occur within the walls of the maternity hospital.

The bacterium is very tenacious, and it is extremely difficult to fight it, despite the maximum range of measures carried out in maternity hospitals (sterilization of diapers, bed linen and other household items used in the ward).

It is precisely because of the frequent infection with Staphylococcus aureus that in some institutions women in labor are prohibited from using their own clothing, with the exception of underwear, and there are also restrictions on washing wardrobe items.

A newborn can become a carrier of staphylococcus after passing through the mother's birth canal, so all women at 36-38 weeks are recommended to undergo complete vaginal sanitation.

At home, a baby can “catch” an infection from one of the family members through toys, common objects, or tactile contact (for example, by kissing).

If the child is breastfed, the mother should carefully monitor her health and hygiene, since Staphylococcus aureus can penetrate into mother's milk, actively multiplying in the nutrient medium.

Pathogenesis

The origin and development of staphylococcal infection is accompanied by the formation of a local focus of inflammation. Its structure is:

staphylococci;
necrotic tissues;
serous-hemorrhagic exudate.

Subsequently, if no treatment has been prescribed for staphylococcus in a child, small abscesses begin to form, which, merging, form large foci of infection. If the pathogen enters the skin at the site of injury, boils begin to form. If the infection has penetrated through the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, the baby may develop stomatitis or sore throat.

Gastrointestinal diseases caused by staphylococcus are characterized by ulcerative, catarrhal or necrotic lesions of the stomach and intestinal lining. In severe forms of the disease, staphylococcus penetrates through the blood into the internal organs and systems of the body (bones, central nervous system, liver, etc.), which leads to sepsis.

Causes

Most often, the bacterium enters the human body through wounds and microcracks in the skin. The infection, having penetrated through the wound, begins to multiply in the blood, spreading throughout the body and affecting the lungs, heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and joints.

With staphylococcus, diseases can be very different, such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, sepsis and many others.

Staphylococcus infection can occur in the following ways:

● Through contact and household use when using the patient’s personal items;

● Airborne droplets during close contact with an infected person;

● Fecal-oral on dirty fruits, vegetables and other food products, dirty dishes and hands;

● Vertical when a child passes through the birth canal of an infected mother during childbirth.

● Infection often occurs during surgery through medical instruments and during various manipulations.

Diagnosis of staphylococcus

To diagnose an infection, a specialist from the Miracle Doctor clinic examines the child, collects anamnesis from the parents and determines treatment tactics. However, in order to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct therapy, the doctor will order tests:

laboratory testing of blood and urine;
PCR – to detect particles of RNA or DNA of staphylococcus;
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to detect specific antibodies to the pathogen;
mucosal smear, skin scraping, stool analysis (depending on the location of the disease).

Medical doctors recommend that parents be especially careful and seek medical help at the first signs of infection. Infection with Staphylococcus aureus is very dangerous for a child, because it can quickly lead to the development of complications.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is extremely difficult to recognize an infection, since the clinical picture of the disease is absolutely identical to respiratory (cold) diseases and intestinal poisoning. It is possible to make a correct diagnosis and begin the necessary treatment in a timely manner only after a complete examination of the child and collection of a medical history.

Analysis of stool for dysbacteriosis is not very informative in infants in the first months of life. The intestinal microflora is just being formed; everything that gets into the baby’s mouth from a pacifier, toy, hands, mother’s clothes and others passes through the intestines in transit without staying there. The composition of the microflora can change every few days.

Victoria Druzhikina

Neurologist, Therapist

To diagnose staphylococcal infection in infants, the following methods are used:

Blood test for antibodies . When pathogenic microorganisms begin to grow and release toxic substances, the body reacts by producing antibodies that can fight the foreign agents. Clinical examination of blood serum allows the detection of these antibodies and the presence of a bacterial infection.
Bacterial culture . The analysis proceeds as follows: a scraping (smear) of the contents is taken from the baby’s mucous membranes and sent to the laboratory to determine the pathogenic microflora. The same method is used to determine the resistance of staphylococcus to various groups of antibiotics. In addition to scraping from the mucous membranes, the baby's feces are sown on nutrient media to detect the growth of staphylococcus and determine its quantity.
PCR . It is used as a clarifying component of diagnosis if previous methods did not provide a complete picture of the child’s condition. The accuracy of PCR is 98 percent and virtually eliminates the possibility of error.

If the baby is breastfed, the mother's milk must be tested for the presence of this type of bacteria. If they are detected, lactation will have to be temporarily stopped, and the mother will have to undergo a course of treatment using antibiotics.

Treatment

When diagnosing a developing staphylococcal infection, the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen. In this case, therapy for each child is selected individually in accordance with age, location and extent of the lesion, as well as existing concomitant diseases.

Often, to combat Staphylococcus aureus, the following are prescribed:

local antiseptics for treating skin and mucous membranes;
children's antipyretic drugs to reduce temperature above 38 ° C;
antibiotics for treatment in tablet form, in the form of ointments or injections (depending on the location of the disease).

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can diagnose the presence of infection based on the results of a staphylococcus test.

It is worth remembering that testing is recommended only if symptoms of the disease are present. The presence of bacteria in biological material may mean that a person is its carrier, which in itself is the norm.

For analysis, material is taken from the area where the infection is believed to be developing. To detect a pathological process, several tests are carried out to track the dynamics of bacterial growth. If their number increases rapidly, the presence of a staphylococcal infection can be diagnosed. Also, additional analysis will determine the specific type of infection so that the doctor can choose a personal treatment regimen.

Prevention of staphylococcus in newborns

To avoid diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus (and other types of this bacterium), the following rules must be followed:

Be sure to wash your hands before feeding and caring for your baby;
if someone wants to pick up a child, ask them to wash their hands first;
if there are wounds on your hands, then treat the damaged skin with brilliant green or fucorcin;
if a child develops skin lesions, as with staphylococcus, be sure to show him to the doctor;
Monitor the general condition of the baby: fever, breast refusal, crying for no apparent reason and diarrhea - this is a reason to show the child to the pediatrician.

It is important for parents to carry out various activities that strengthen the baby’s immune system. The main thing is to do them only after preliminary consultation with the children's doctor.

Staphylococcus

I never cease to be amazed at how many people in different parts of the world do not have the slightest idea about the animals living side by side with them. J. Durrell

Guys let's be friends! A. Hight

Cocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos translates as “seed”). Hundreds of a wide variety of cocci surround a person throughout his life, but there is, perhaps, no microbe more famous than staphylococcus. Microbiological term staphylococcus

was introduced into medical practice back in 1881.
Under a microscope, it can be seen that the cocci gather in groups similar to a bunch of grapes, hence the name, because staphylos in Greek means “bunch”. This word - “staphylococcus” - is now known to almost everyone and few people evoke positive emotions. Dozens of diseases of people and animals owe their occurrence to staphylococcus; when treating these diseases, doctors experience serious difficulties; there is not a person on the globe who has not experienced health problems associated specifically with staphylococcus at least once in his life. Staphylococci are a whole genus of microorganisms; 27 species are already known today, with 14 species found on human skin and mucous membranes. Most staphylococci are absolutely harmless: of the 14 species mentioned, only 3 are capable of causing disease, but these three are more than enough... The danger and pathogenicity of any bacterium, and staphylococcus in this aspect is no exception, is determined by the presence of so-called “pathogenicity factors” - i.e. It is not the microbe itself that is dangerous, but very specific substances (either included in the microbe, or formed by the microbe in the process of life). Figuratively speaking, it is not the soldier who should be feared, but the knife in his hand. The uniqueness of staphylococcus lies precisely in the fact that it is a soldier, hung with a wide variety of weapons from head to toe. Microbial special forces, in short... A small, inconspicuous and immobile grain - and this is what staphylococcus looks like under a microscope - turns out to be a formidable adversary: every particle, every element of its structure, every biochemical process is a source of danger. The microcapsule surrounding the staphylococcus reflects the attacks of phagocytes (cells that eat microbes) and promotes the penetration of bacteria into the tissues of the body. The cell wall causes inflammatory and allergic reactions, neutralizes immunoglobulins, and immobilizes phagocytes. Numerous enzymes destroy cell structures and neutralize antibiotics. And so-called hemolysins - substances that damage red blood cells, leukocytes and many other cells. There are four types of hemolysins, one more disgusting than the other. The already considerable arsenal of staphylococcus is supplemented by toxins - powerful poisons, each with its own effect, and there are at least a dozen of them in total. A detailed listing of staphylococcal “harmfulness” may seem to the reader another and very malicious medical horror story. But it is impossible to do without these descriptions, because the true essence of staphylococcal infections lies precisely in a huge number of damaging factors - amazing and unparalleled in the microbial world. On the one hand, the diversity of staphylococcal diseases becomes clear. This is not some diphtheria bacillus with one single toxin and one single disease. From a staphylococcus armed to the teeth, you can expect anything - an abscess on the skin, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, and an intestinal infection... On the other hand, the true danger of a particular staphylococcus is determined precisely by the presence of the above-mentioned pathogenicity factors. For it is not at all necessary that a given microbe has all these horrors. Most staphylococci are peaceful guys, we have already said that out of 14 species that live on humans, only 3 are capable of causing diseases - precisely because only they have weapons (the same pathogenicity factors). It is about this trinity that it is worth talking in more detail. So, there are three types of pathogenic staphylococci: Staphylococcus aureus (in Latin - staphylococcus aureus , in analyzes and other medical documents they never write the full name of the genus Staphylococcus , but are limited to the capital letter “S” - i.e. S. aureus), epidermal staphylococcus (S. epidermidis) and saprophytic staphylococcus (S. saprophyticus). Saprophytic staphylococcus
is the most “peaceful” and very rarely affects children.
A big lover of the female sex, it most often causes inflammation of the bladder (less often of the kidneys) in women, since its main habitat is the skin in the genital area and the mucous membrane of the urethra. Staphylococcus epidermidis is less picky and can live anywhere - on any mucous membrane, on any part of the skin - this is reflected in the name of the microbe (epidermis - the surface layer of the skin). The ability of S. epidermidis to cause disease is low - the body of a healthy person of any age (even a newborn) can easily cope with it. Paradox: Staphylococcus epidermidis lives on the skin, but almost never causes any skin pustules. The vast majority of infections occur in weakened people who have undergone surgery and are in intensive care units. The microbe enters the body from the surface of the skin through wounds, drainages, vascular and urinary catheters... Blood poisoning and endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart) can occur. It is epidermal staphylococcus that is a real punishment for surgeons involved in internal prosthetics: if any artificial valves, vessels, joints become infected, it is almost always with this staphylococcus. And finally, the most famous, sadly, well-known staphylococcus is Staphylococcus aureus . Against its background, all other representatives of the staphylococcal tribe seem to be peaceful domestic animals. Almost all medical problems associated with staphylococcus imply the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Only Staphylococcus aureus has a full arsenal of damaging factors. Only he is able to persistently and inventively fight off antibiotics and antiseptics. No concessions, no discounts for gender and age - newborns, adults, and the elderly: everyone is vulnerable, sensitive, susceptible... There is no organ in the human body where Staphylococcus aureus cannot penetrate and where it cannot cause an inflammatory process. The emergence of at least 100 of the most dangerous human diseases is directly related to Staphylococcus aureus and only to it. Under a microscope, colonies of Staphylococcus aureus appear orange or yellow, hence the name. The microbe is surprisingly stable in the external environment. Many other bacteria have this resistance, but when exposed to unfavorable factors they form spores - the microbes die, but the spores remain. After external conditions improve, the spores turn into bacteria, which then attack the human body. Staphylococcus does not form spores. And yet it is stable. And always ready. Staphylococcus aureus does not lose activity when dried. Lives 12 hours under direct sunlight. Withstands temperatures of 150 C for 10 minutes! Does not die in pure ethyl alcohol. It is not afraid of hydrogen peroxide; moreover, it produces a special enzyme, catalase, which destroys hydrogen peroxide, and the microbe itself absorbs the resulting oxygen. A unique feature of staphylococcus is its ability to survive in solutions of sodium chloride - i.e. table salt. 3 teaspoons of salt per glass of water will hold up easily. Why is this so important? Yes, because only staphylococcus can survive in the sweat gland - it has nothing to do with salty human sweat! The microbe also produces the enzyme lipase, which destroys fats in general and the sebaceous plug at the mouth of the hair follicle in particular. An obvious and sad consequence: almost 100% of skin ulcers (boils, styes, boils, carbuncles, etc.) are Staphylococcus aureus and only Staphylococcus aureus. The very knowledge of this fact will easily convince the reader that there is no person on the globe who has never had staphylococcal disease: it is almost impossible to live a life and never discover some kind of pimple on yourself. But staphylococcus also has its own Achilles heel - a completely strange, incomprehensible, but very high sensitivity to aniline dyes - first of all, to a solution of brilliant green - that same ordinary green dye that is in every home. The skin problems mentioned are an example of local infections typical of Staphylococcus aureus. Truly these are flowers, in comparison with berries - general or systemic infections. The microbe produces a special enzyme - coagulase (in principle, only Staphylococcus aureus has this enzyme ) . When staphylococcus enters the vascular bed from the surface of the skin, blood clotting begins under the influence of coagulase and the bacteria end up inside microthrombi - reliably hidden from the protective factors of the immune system. On the one hand, this can cause staphylococcal sepsis (i.e., blood poisoning caused by staphylococcus), on the other hand, staphylococcus can enter any organ and, accordingly, cause a purulent inflammatory process in any organ. Most often, staphylococcal pneumonia , damage to the heart valves; ulcers can be found anywhere - in the liver, in the brain, and in the kidneys. One of the most common problems is osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue). Paradoxically, with open bone fractures, osteomyelitis is not always staphylococcal, but when it occurs “out of the blue,” the culprit of the “triumph” is almost always Staphylococcus aureus. From the surface of the skin, staphylococcus can penetrate into the mammary gland (it is the main cause of purulent mastitis), and from the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract - into the ear cavity, paranasal sinuses, and down into the lungs (another option for the development of staphylococcal pneumonia). And that is not all!! Staphylococci produce strong poisons (toxins), which themselves can cause very serious diseases. One such toxin (exfoliatin) affects newborns. The poison acts on the skin, causing the formation of blisters, like burns. This disease has even been called “scalded baby syndrome.” Toxic shock syndrome, described in 1980 at the dawn of the use of absorbent tampons by women during menstruation, is also associated with staphylococcal toxins. The most common toxic staphylococcal disease is food poisoning. Almost 50% of all Staphylococcus aureus secrete enterotoxin, a poison that causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Staphylococci reproduce well in many foods; they especially love butter creams, vegetable and meat salads, and canned food. During the process of reproduction, a toxin accumulates in food, and it is the toxin, and not the microbe itself, that causes the symptoms of the disease in a careless eater. A significant role is played by the resistance of both microbes and toxins to preservative salt concentrations, as well as the ability to withstand boiling. What a harmful creature staphylococcus is! The most interesting thing is that, despite numerous enzymes and dangerous toxins, despite the amazing stability in the external environment, the microbe cannot do anything about the immune defense of a healthy person: there is an antidote for every poison, the systems of general and local immunity are able to neutralize the factors pathogenicity, inhibit the proliferation of staphylococci, prevent the occurrence of diseases! On the surface of the skin, on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and vagina, in the intestines, and finally, staphylococci can live for years, coexisting peacefully with a person and without causing him any harm. Acquaintance with staphylococcus begins immediately after birth - almost all newborns become infected, but most get rid of the microbe within a few days or weeks. Staphylococcus lives in the nasopharynx constantly in 20% of people, in 60% - occasionally, and only every fifth person has such strong protection that carriage of the microbe is impossible. Thus, staphylococcus often turns out to be an absolutely normal and natural representative of, again, an absolutely normal and natural human microflora. But since the potential harmfulness of such a neighborhood is obvious, it is not surprising that staphylococcus is classified as opportunistic bacteria - that is, microbes that can cause disease, but only under certain circumstances. Any medical problems caused by staphylococcus involve the occurrence of factors that reduce the human immune defense. Damage to the skin (injuries, splinters, friction on clothing, violation of hygiene rules) is a prerequisite for local purulent infections, decreased immunity due to other diseases, eating disorders, stress, hypovitaminosis are prerequisites for general infections, violation of rules for preparing and storing food is a prerequisite for food poisoning. But, and this is very (!) important, always distinguish between concepts such as staphylococcus and staphylococcal infection. Detection of staphylococcus in the absence of real symptoms of the disease is not at all a reason for immediate rescue and swallowing medications. Despite all the unambiguous theoretical validity of the above rule, practical actions... In practice, everything very often happens exactly the opposite. Staphylococcus is found in the milk of a healthy nursing woman (as a rule, it got there from the surface of the skin) and this serves as a reason to stop feeding! In the analysis of stool for dysbiosis or in a smear from the throat, the presence of staphylococcus was revealed, and in the absence of even hints of an infectious disease, with normal body temperature and unimpaired general condition, the child is fed antibiotics! Moreover, staphylococcus is often attributed to diseases that are, in principle, not characteristic of it, blaming it either for constipation or allergic dermatitis, explaining its presence as increased gas formation in the intestines, regurgitation, hiccups, trembling of the chin, excessive production of saliva, grunting through the nose, etc. ., etc. We repeat, given the importance of the issue: people are treated, not tests (in general); They treat a staph infection, not staph (in particular). Treatment of staphylococcal diseases is a surprisingly difficult task, because there is no microbe that can compare with staphylococcus in its ability to develop resistance to antibiotics and other antibacterial agents. The experience of the first use of penicillin showed its effectiveness specifically against staphylococci. A little more than half a century has passed, and now one can only dream of such staphylococci. Pharmacologists synthesize more and more new antimicrobial agents, and microbiologists, with no less frequency, discover staphylococci that are not sensitive to these agents. The main reason for this phenomenon is not only the staphylococcus itself, but also the unjustifiably widespread use of antibiotics in situations where it is quite possible to do without it. It’s a paradox, but even some staphylococcal diseases do not need treatment with antibiotics - for example, food poisoning, which, as we have already said, is not associated with the microbe itself, but with its toxins. Staphylococcus is different from staphylococcus. The most dangerous and resistant to many drugs live in hospitals. Life there is not easy (and for bacteria as well), but staphylococci that survive in conditions of constant use of disinfectants and massive use of antibiotics are a serious risk factor, the basis of the so-called hospital infection. Let us repeat: the treatment of staphylococcal diseases is a complex task, the path to its solution is long and expensive, but quite realistic. A specific staphylococcus resistant to all antibacterial agents is a very rare phenomenon. Bacteriological methods make it possible not only to detect the culprit of the disease, but also to determine its sensitivity to drugs, and then carry out a course of effective therapy. Purulent foci in the relevant organs are eliminated by surgical interventions; anti-staphylococcal plasma and immunoglobulins are also used, through which ready-made antibodies are introduced into the body. Of great importance is the elimination of the provoking factors we mentioned - those that reduce the immune defense and determine the fundamental possibility of the occurrence of the disease. It’s sad, but a staphylococcal infection does not leave behind long-term immunity. The number of possible pathogenicity factors is too large. Antibodies have appeared in the blood to the toxins of one staphylococcus, but the outcome of an encounter with another microbe is not predictable, because it may have other toxins that are not yet familiar to the body. Humanity is doomed to live next to staphylococcus.
The neighborhood is not the most pleasant, but tolerable. All we can do in this situation is to avoid conflicts. Maintain in order, strengthen and patch the fence in a timely manner (i.e. the immune system) and strictly observe the non-aggression pact - do not throw stones (antibiotics) at your neighbor as long as he does not touch us. author Komarovsky E.O. published 17/01/2007 13:27 updated 01/04/2019 — Diseases and treatment

About pathology

Colonies grow on a medium - blood agar. The bacterium got its name because of its golden color. In fact, approximately one-quarter of the world's population is carriers of this bacterium.

Staphylococcus aureus

Its favorite locations are the armpits, nasal cavity and groin area. But, despite its normal presence on the skin, it does not cause any diseases in humans. It is classified as normal skin flora.

It is worth noting that it does not cause any pathologies as long as it is in moderate quantities. As soon as its quantity exceeds the permissible norm, the development of the pathological process begins. As a rule, staphylococcus begins to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin through the presence of scars, cracks and other damage. As a result, a skin infection or even an abscess develops.

Basically, all body systems are damaged. First of all, the liver and spleen are affected. Then the musculoskeletal system. But that’s not all, because often the consequences are much more serious. Therefore, you should not neglect the first symptoms of the disease and immediately go to a specialist.