Staphylococcus aureus treatment is one of the most common problems that adults and children have to deal with. We are talking about Staphylococcus aureus - a stationary aerobic bacterium that is the causative agent of various diseases. Most often, the disease affects at an early age.
This microorganism got its name because of the specific golden glow that occurs when sowing 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, a bacterium under a microscope is similar to a bunch of grapes - this can easily explain the first part of its name (staphyle - "bunch").
Aerobic microorganism is widespread 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 be found even in "sterile" breast milk and on the skin of any healthy person.
Is this microbe dangerous
Staphylococcus aureus treatment is required only if its amount exceeds the norm. It is present in the body of each of us, but here is the peculiarity: staphylococcal infection is not the destiny of absolutely healthy people. In a person with strong immunity, “useful” microflora inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria and does not allow them to show their pathogenic nature. In the case of 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 (the treatment in adults, as a rule, involves the use of antibiotics) is due to three factors:
- This microbe is highly resistant to antiseptic substances and environmental influences. The bacterium does not die even after ten minutes of boiling, drying, freezing, treatment with ethanol, 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 is 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 epidermal cells, 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, staph infection can threaten the rapid development of toxic shock.
It is impossible not to mention the fact that a person does not develop immunity to Staphylococcus aureus. The patient, having once had a bacterial infection, is not protected from reinfection. The only way to minimize the risk of infection is to follow personal hygiene rules and avoid contact with sick people.
At a particular risk of the disease are 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 facilities, the concentration of staphylococcus in the environment usually exceeds the norm - this should always be remembered when going to the doctor's office.
Causes
Everything is simple: the pathogen mentioned above can provoke the development of staphylococcal infection. Microbial infection occurs when immunity is reduced. The following factors usually contribute to the weakening of the body's defenses:
- prolonged use of antibiotics or steroid drugs;
- stressful situations, severe emotional upheaval;
- unbalanced nutrition;
- seasonal or pathological beriberi;
- the presence in the body of a focus of chronic inflammation;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- ignoring the rules of personal hygiene;
- premature birth;
- artificial feeding;
- late attachment to the chest.
Types of infection
Conditionally distinguish between generalized and local forms 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 complex and dangerous is the generalized form (septicopyemia and septicemia). Local types of infection require the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the intestines, joints, respiratory tract, mammary glands, mucous membranes, and skin. Food poisoning caused by bacteria endotoxin belongs to a separate category.
It is also important to note that staphylococcal infection can be primary and secondary. In 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 lesion site. The unifying signs of staphylococcal infection include:
- fever, chills;
- severe intoxication syndrome ;
- lethargy and general weakness;
- lack of appetite;
- small rashes on the body.
Microbe infection of the umbilical wound
This disease is called omphalitis, found in newborns. A characteristic feature is swelling of the umbilical ring, the presence of purulent discharge from the wound. In the absence of timely treatment for Staphylococcus aureus, the umbilical vein is involved in the pathological process - when palpated, it seems thickened. 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, when talking about infection with this bacterial infection, they mean the secondary form of the disease. Favorable conditions for the propagation of Staphylococcus aureus against the background of a weakened immunity are:
- Pseudofurunculosis (sweat gland damage). Pathology is characterized by the appearance of dense reddish nodules in skin folds, places of accumulation of sweat glands. When staphylococcus is activated, tissue suppuration occurs.
- Vesiculopustulosis. It is characterized by the formation of vesicles with exudative contents, which open spontaneously, thereby creating ways for staphylococcus to penetrate.
- Exfoliative dermatitis. Doctors call this disease “scalded skin syndrome”, as it externally manifests itself in huge blisters resembling burn marks. After some time, the skin begins to peel off, there are open wounds in which staphylococcus gets.
- Abscess and phlegmon - damage to the deep layers of the epidermis or subcutaneous tissue with marked hyperemia and compaction. Penetration into the cavity of Staphylococcus aureus contributes to the development of inflammation and suppuration.
- Panaritium is a disease characterized by inflammation of the extreme phalanges of the fingers.
Mucous eye
The development of conjunctivitis with bacteria on the mucosa causes a number of pathological symptoms. Patients complain of such manifestations as:
- photophobia;
- intense lacrimation;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- redness of the sclera;
- the presence of purulent discharge.
For the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus, which provoked conjunctivitis, antibacterial and combined eye drops are used, the eyes are washed with antiseptic drugs, a solution of potassium permanganate.
Respiratory tract
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 realize that they are not just sick with prolonged acute respiratory infections, and their respiratory tract is affected by a bacterial infection. Take tests and start treatment for Staphylococcus aureus in the nose and throat if:
- runny nose does not pass more than 10 days;
- sore throat when swallowing;
- diagnosed with redness and swelling of the tonsils;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- persistent low-grade fever;
- general weakness and malaise are felt.
It is impossible to ignore the symptoms of bacterial damage to the respiratory tract. Without treatment for Staphylococcus aureus in the throat in adults and children, complications may begin due to the spread of infection throughout the body. In severe cases, the development of airway stenosis is also possible.
Staphylococcal meningitis
Having penetrated 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. To confirm the diagnosis, spinal puncture is performed.
Infection of other organs and systems
In addition to the above complications, which leads to infection with Staphylococcus aureus, damage to the urinary tract, joints, and gastrointestinal tract is possible.
The bacterium is capable of provoking urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, the characteristic symptoms of which are: rapid urination with pains, aching lower back pain, high fever. Protein is present in the urinalysis of such patients, the permissible number of leukocytes is exceeded, and bacterial culture confirms the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the urinary tract.
When bones and joints become infected, arthritis and osteomyelitis develop. Food intoxication and bowel damage is another common scenario after eating 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 that are used to confirm the diagnosis:
- laboratory and clinical blood analysis (experts pay attention to the indicators of leukocytes, neutrophils, ESR);
- general urinalysis (protein, an increased number of white blood cells indicates an infection);
- bacteriological culture of biological material on nutrient media (identification of pathogenic microflora).
The latter type of study is carried out in order to identify the pathogen, to establish its sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics of various spectra.
The results of laboratory analysis of feces may also indicate the need for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. In feces, sowing of which is carried out no later than 3 hours after 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 medication and brushing your teeth, with conjunctivitis, samples are obtained from the lower eyelid using a sterile swab moistened with distilled water. To confirm staphylococcal infection of the skin, smears are taken after preliminary treatment of the epidermis around the wound with antimicrobial solutions and removal of dead particles.
Therapy
The treatment regimen is selected depending on the location of the lesion. Infection doctors are involved in the treatment of staphylococcal infections in children and adults. In most cases, patients with Staphylococcus aureus are hospitalized.
In mild forms of the disease, antibiotics are not prescribed. In case of deterioration of health and severity of the clinical picture, treatment begins with the use of semi-synthetic penicillins (Amoxiclav). "Ceftriaxone" and "Kefzol", which are prescribed in the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, are usually ineffective because of the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillins and cephalosporins.
The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease, damage to the skin 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 the treatment can take up to several months.
Purulent-inflammatory diseases of the epidermis with the addition of staphylococcal infection are an indication for the appointment of a topical antibiotic Mupirocin and pleuromutilin derivatives. In the case of a mild illness, wounds are treated with antiseptics (a solution of brilliant green, manganese, hydrogen peroxide) and antibacterial ointments (Bactroban, Tetracycline, Oxycort). In the case of the development of abscesses or phlegmon, surgical opening of the abscesses is performed to drain the pus.
When foodborne toxicosis provoked by Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotics are not prescribed, only "Staphylococcal Anatoxin" is used. In addition, the patient must be washed his 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 prevention of intestinal dysbiosis, it is recommended to use antifungal drugs (Diflucan, Nystatin) simultaneously with antibiotics. In parallel with any localization of the bacterial lesion, the patient is prescribed immunomodulators, vitamin and mineral complexes.
How to deal with a respiratory tract infection
Special attention deserves the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the throat and nose. As soon as the antibiotic resistance of the pathogen that affects the body is determined, therapy can be started. You can fight staphylococcus with the help of special antimicrobial solutions, sprays, drops, infusions. With a complicated course, you will have to resort to the use of antistaphylococcal drugs.
For the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the nose in adults and children, Chlorophyllipt oil drops are suitable. 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 using the drug "IRS-19".
Analgesic and antipyretic drugs are used if indicated (fever, headache). Also, with a bacterial infection, it is necessary to increase the daily rate of fluid intake.