We are not alone on the planet. Thousands of species of animals and insects inhabit it, but even this does not end there. Bacteria are always present next to us - in the air and on the ground, on household items. Among them are neutral and useful, and there are also harmful to any living organism.
Moreover, there are bacteria inside us too. They make up the intestinal microflora, and often a small number of staphylococci are present in it. This is not dangerous until something serves as a trigger for their reproduction. Then the bacteria "wake up" and begin their activity. A developing infection can lead to a variety of consequences - from infection to sepsis. Let's look at how staphylococcus penetrates the body, and what are the possibilities of medicine in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
general description
You need to know the enemies by sight, so today we’ll talk about what or who can be a source of food contamination with staphylococci. But first, a few words about the bacteria themselves. They are resistant to external influences. Therefore, the disease caused by them is very difficult to treat with antibiotics. It should be borne in mind that in the world there are about 25 varieties, as well as dozens of subspecies. Despite belonging to the same group, they behave differently.
The most dangerous and most common are: epidermal, golden and saprophytic staphylococcus. Staphylococcus aureus is well known to doctors. This is a dangerous kind of bacteria. They do not care heat treatment. It is very difficult to cleanse the body of this scourge, and the prolonged activity of bacteria in the body leads to the formation of purulent foci in various organs: the liver and kidneys, and the heart.
Causes of infection
Who can be a source of food contamination with staphylococci? This is usually an infected person. Moreover, if this happened in the kitchen of the dining room, then part of the customers eating in it will get sick, and the other will remain healthy. Why is this happening? Because these bacteria are actually amazing. They occupy an intermediate place between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. That is, they do not always cause infection, but only under a combination of circumstances.
The main condition for the bacteria to be able to start to grow is a decrease in the body's resistance. And it can be caused by a variety of reasons. These are overwork and intoxication, hypothermia and chronic diseases, surgical interventions and oncology. All this leads to a decrease in immunity. It is not in vain that special attention should be paid to the question of who can be the source of food contamination with staphylococci. In fact, any person, an employee of the public catering system, who does not observe the rules of personal hygiene, who does not undergo a medical examination on time.
Cleanliness is the key to health
Staphylococcal foodborne toxicoinfection is primarily the result of unsanitary conditions. If only healthy workers are allowed to food products, who carefully observe all the norms and rules of processing, then the likelihood that a large number of bacteria that can lead to the disease will enter the consumer’s body is minimal. Especially unsanitary conditions are terrible in various hospitals, in maternity hospitals and burn wards. If a large number of bacteria enter the weakened body, this causes serious complications.
Infection mechanism
The disease can cause the body to not cope with its own opportunistic flora, which lives on the skin and mucous membranes. In other cases, infection occurs through:
- Food;
- household items;
- direct contact with the carrier of infection.
It should be noted that the carriage of pathogenic bacteria is not a disease, can be asymptomatic and does not cause a person any inconvenience. This condition does not require treatment, but can cause other people to become infected. But carriage cannot be revealed without special tests. Therefore, employees of medical and preschool institutions, the food industry must be regularly examined. A person with staphylococcus should be immediately suspended from work.
Clinical manifestations
Staph infection is very insidious. It can affect almost all organs, tissues and systems. The clinical picture will depend on exactly where the infection has taken root. Therefore, no symptom should be ignored. Then it will be possible in time to identify the cause and correctly diagnose. Staphylococcal foodborne infection is the most common of all that are caused by these bacteria. In this case, the gastrointestinal tract is affected. The patient is unable to eat normally and quickly loses strength.
Staphylococcal Food Poisoning
The symptoms of such poisoning are actually known to many, and the disease develops suddenly. It is only necessary to use low-quality or expired food. Staphylococcus multiplies well in cream, dairy products, and canned goods. However, any food can be a source. But that is not all.
- Even if there are no sick people in your close circle, this does not mean that you are completely safe - direct contact is not required. It is enough to be near the carrier on the street or in the store - and get a dose of pathogens by airborne droplets.
- A baby can get a serving of bacteria through her mother’s milk.
- Staphylococcus is sexually transmitted, as there is contact with the mucous membranes.
That is, in our environment there are enough of those who can be a source of food contamination with staphylococci.
First signs
Once in a favorable environment, microbes multiply and secrete enterotoxins. Poisoning - this, in fact, is the reaction of the body to toxins. The consequences of this is watery stools, vomiting. Often in children, the following symptoms appear:
- fever;
- skin rashes;
- general weakness;
- stomach ache.
Most often they are attributed to a banal malaise, and they are waiting for everything to pass by itself. But the next day it will only get worse. Therefore, it is better to go to the hospital, and there the doctors themselves will figure it out, which led to such symptoms.
If treatment is delayed
Staphylococcal food poisoning cannot be ignored, as the infection will rapidly develop. If you decide to simply stop vomiting and wait for an improvement, then we hasten to disappoint you. Intoxication of the body only intensifies, because bacteria multiply and intensely poison their carrier. Therefore, the very next day such a clinical picture can be observed:
- Inflammation of certain sections of the intestine.
- The development of edema in the affected areas.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Heat.
- Weakness and apathy.
- Chills.
It is no longer possible to pull further with medical help, since dehydration slowly but surely kills. At the same time, it is practically useless to drink the patient by force - this provokes vomiting. Only infusion of saline intravenously will help.
First aid
If there is no possibility to urgently deliver a person to the hospital, it is necessary to begin treatment at home. How to cope with a disease caused by staphylococcus? Food poisoning develops most often after eating low-quality foods. Therefore, it is extremely important to cleanse and rinse the stomach. The longer the pathogen is in the human body, the more severe the lesion.
Therefore, do not try to stop vomiting or diarrhea. On the contrary, it is necessary to provoke the cleansing of the body by pressing the root of the tongue. Also drink a weak solution of potassium permanganate. If a person faints, turn him on his side so that he does not choke on vomit.
If a person has severe diarrhea, you do not need to take medications to normalize stool. They greatly facilitate the condition of a person, but at the same time interfere with the elimination of toxins. When the vomiting subsides, you can drink sorbents or adsorbents, activated charcoal and Regidron, Smectu and strong black tea. And of course, it is necessary to eliminate the cause, and not fight the symptoms.
Diagnostics
Staphylococcal infection, the causes of which lie in the life of specific microorganisms, can be treated very hard. It is resistant to most impacts. Therefore, it is important to make the correct diagnosis.
At home, this is impossible. This means that you must go to a medical institution. If, according to the results of the analyzes, it is confirmed that the poisoning is caused by staphylococcus, it is urgent to start complex therapy. At home, this is also not possible, despite the availability of antibiotics.
Inpatient treatment
Based on the results of the tests, a diagnosis of staphylococcal poisoning is made to determine pathogenic microflora. Symptoms of intoxication will not disappear until the number of bacteria decreases, and accordingly it does not become less and the toxic substances released by them. Treatment begins with another washing of the stomach, as well as the intestines. Doctors cannot know exactly how well this procedure was performed at home, so you have to wait a little longer.
After this patient, the following procedures await:
- The introduction of a glucose solution to normalize the general condition.
- If there are signs of dehydration, then an infusion of salt solutions is prescribed.
- It is mandatory to take drugs - probiotics, which replenish the intestinal microflora.
- The course of immunomodulators helps stimulate the fight against pathogenic microorganisms.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Immunostimulants.
- Therapy of patients in serious condition.
This is an inevitable development of events, if not treated staphylococcal poisoning. Symptoms will gradually increase. If the patient enters in a febrile state, with severe chills, he is placed under a warm blanket and surrounded by heating pads with water. For abdominal pain, you can also apply a heating pad to it. The doctor may prescribe injections of camphor and caffeine.
The first 24 hours after stopping the symptoms, a strict diet is followed. After that, a therapeutic diet is recommended: only those dishes that have a low concentration of glucose and carbohydrates should be in the diet. Be sure to use fermented milk products that will help restore digestion. How long the patient will be in the hospital depends on the severity of the poisoning and the state of the body. An average of 3-7 days can be an effective treatment for staphylococcal food poisoning. The reasons will be thoroughly investigated by doctors so that this does not happen again.
Prevention
To avoid staphylococcus poisoning, you must carefully monitor your health. Do not buy food from street stalls. This is especially important in the summer heat. Eat better at home or in proven places. Vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly, and the temperature conditions necessary for storage should be observed. It is not recommended to purchase milk and other products from strangers. A cow can have mastitis, and this in 100% of cases will lead to the multiplication of pathogenic microflora, including staphylococcus. Intestinal infections are best avoided, but you need to be prepared for this.
And of course, you just need to follow the rules of hygiene: washing your hands after returning from the street, visiting the restroom and before eating or preparing food should become a habit.