Related concepts:

Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcal infections

Introduction to staph:

Staph infections are very common. The bacteria look like innocent clusters of grapes under the microscope.

What is staph?

Staph bacteria surround us! They are often found on the surface of healthy people’s skin. Infection occurs if they enter the skin, or enter the body through another route.

There are many species of Staph bacteria. They cause a wide variety of illnesses in children, ranging from very mild skin infections to devastating toxic shock syndrome.

Skin infections are especially common and include impetigo, conjunctivitis, cellulitis, acne, boils, styes, and infected wounds or hangnails. Staph can be associated with mild blocked tear ducts in newborns. Staph scalded skin syndrome, though, is a severe skin disease caused by Staph.

Staph can cause infections in the ears, nose, and throat. And it can cause swimmer’s ear, an infection in the ear canal.

Staph infections also occur in lymph nodes. Staph blood infections can lead to many other areas of infection including pneumonia, infective arthritis, bone infections, and even meningitis.

Staph food poisoning is one of the most common types of food poisoning.

Who gets staph?

Most or all children get some form of Staph infection. Those with an underlying chronic disease, such as diabetes, or those with indwelling foreign bodies, such as shunts, catheters, or artificial joints, are at the highest risk.

Staph food poisoning comes from eating foods contaminated by Staph. Staph usually gets into the food from food handlers with infected eyes, fingers, pimples, boils, rashes, or nasal secretions. When Staph is introduced into prepared foods and not followed immediately by cooking or refrigeration, the bacteria multiply and produce a toxin that will not be destroyed by cooking. The ideal temperature for Staph to grow is about body temperature.

The most commonly affected foods are sandwiches, sliced ham, poultry, or other meats, potato salads, egg salads, salad dressings, cream-filled pastries, and custards.

What are the symptoms of staph?

The symptoms of a Staph infection vary depending on the location and severity of the infection. (See individual conditions such as conjunctivitis or impetigo for possible symptoms. Staph may produce pus wherever it appears.

Staph food poisoning is dramatic in that it begins quickly after eating the offending food -- within 8 hours, usually within 4 hours, often within 30 minutes. Children with Staph will have sudden severe nausea, vomiting, and cramps, often accompanied by diarrhea. There is usually no significant fever, in fact the temperature often drops.