Hardly any other bacterium is as common in nature as Staphylococcus aureus. Around 30% of people carry it.
For people who work in the medical field, the proportion is often even higher. In addition to humans, other warm-blooded animals also carry it. It is also found in food and water.
It is often harmless and we humans do not suffer any damage. Under certain conditions, however, diseases break out that primarily affect our skin, but can also affect the rest of the body. Because the bacterium is so common, it can happen to anyone.
In this article, we take a closer look at what Staphylococcus aureus actually is, what diseases it causes, how we can avoid avoidable contact with the bacterium and what happens in the event of an infection.
Under certain conditions, Staphylococcus aureus is a contemporary that should not be underestimated. As a bacterium, it is responsible for numerous human diseases.1
In addition to diseases such as pneumonia or infections of the heart valves, however, the most common diseases affect the skin.
This is because the bacterium would first have to penetrate the bloodstream in order to trigger an organ disease. These are therefore rarer. The more common skin infections can be accompanied by blisters or abscesses and redness, for example.
All these clinical pictures sound very unpleasant and can also develop in a dangerous direction under certain circumstances. However, most of the people who carry Staphylococcus aureus do not suffer from outbreaks of disease.
The bacterium is found in the nasal mucosa of around 30% of people without them having the disease. These persons are also called “carriers“.
Why is Staphylococcus aureus only a cause of disease under certain circumstances and otherwise harmless? This is because it is facultatively pathogenic.
This means that the bacterium only poses a risk to our body if it already has a weakened immune system.
Many people carry Staphylococcus aureus even without symptoms. The bacterium is transmitted in various ways.
The most common are probably droplet and smear infections. It can be found on door handles, telephone receivers, elevator buttons, shopping carts and other everyday objects.
This is especially true in public places. This is because the bacterium quickly spreads from our hands to all kinds of surfaces.
Especially since many everyday objects come into contact with people who could potentially act as carriers more often than they could be cleaned.
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common. It has a hand in a wide variety of diseases.
It usually manifests itself on the skin in the form of abscesses and inflammation. If it enters the bloodstream, other diseases can also be the result. These include:
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus can occur again and again because the bacterium is so widespread. There are certain scenarios in which our body is more likely to be affected by this contact.
This is usually the case when the immune system is already weakened, for example due to an illness.
Accordingly, the risk of contracting a Staphylococcus aureus infection increases with:
Newborn babies whose immune system is not yet fully developed and breastfeeding mothers are also more likely to be affected.
There are various skin infections that can manifest themselves after contact with Staphylococcus aureus.
They all have one thing in common: they are unfortunately very contagious.
The easiest infection with Staphylococcus aureus is folliculitis. In this case, a hair root, i.e. the so-called follicle, is affected, which leads to a small, albeit painful, pimple.
Impetigo is much more unpleasant with its flat, filled blisters that can cause an itchy feeling or even pain.
Abscesses, also known as boils, are quite similar.
As the name suggests, these are accumulations of pus under the skin.
The infection toxic epidermal necrolysis is particularly severe in newborns. This causes the skin to peel off. This usually affects larger areas of skin.
Also for skin diseases acne , rosacea and neurodermatitis Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role.
If too many of these bacteria are present on the skin, they weaken the skin flora and cause redness, itching and tightness.
In this case, the bacterial balance of the skin is disturbed and the skin barrier is no longer sufficiently resistant.
The abbreviation MRSA stands for multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(formerly also methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
This means that MRSA is a form of Staphylococcus aureus that is already resistant to various antibiotics – in particular methicillin, which is related to penicillin.
As a result, the corresponding antibiotics are ineffective against the bacterium. This is also the reason why other antibiotics such as oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin are used today instead of methicillin.
However, even if the antibiotics mentioned can often achieve good results against MRSA: Not all of them are equally well tolerated by everyone. And some of them, like dicloxacillin, are associated with water pollution.
Phage therapy can be a gentle, natural alternative here. The so-called bacteriophages – depending on which phages are involved – only attack bacteria of a specific strain.
For example, Staphylococcus aureus. For example, phage therapy can be very helpful for skin diseases, as studies have shown. 2
Medical therapy with bacteriophages is not yet common in all countries of the world. We find phages as an alternative to antibiotics, especially in Eastern Europe.
In Western countries, their use is still mostly limited to the food industry. Germany is one of the pioneers in research into bacteriophages for medical purposes.
Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA or multi-resistant or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, cannot be treated with the penicillin-based antibiotic originally used.
It is simply no longer sensitive to this agent. Whether a Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to antibiotics and if so, to which ones, also depends on where the infection occurred.
More of the resistant Staphylococcus aureus are found in hospitals than in other places – this also applies to other medical facilities.
One of the most important preventive measures against Staphylococcus aureus is to wash your hands regularly and for long enough.
This is because transmission occurs primarily through everyday objects that have been contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus through sneezing or coughing.
This is how the bacteria get to our hands and should ideally be eliminated by washing our hands again and again.
Following the hygiene recommendations when sneezing and coughing, i.e. sneezing and coughing into the crook of your arm instead of your hand, also plays an important role in protection.
If an infection is already present, it is often treated with antibiotics. Due to the constant emergence of resistance, it is not possible to say in general terms which antibiotics are effective.
Many skin diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus sound anything but pleasant. Acne, rosacea and neurodermatitis are at the top of the list for most sufferers.
That is why it is right and important to interpret the signs of the skin at an early stage. Redness, itching and tightness of the skin can be an indication that the bacterial balance is disturbed. An excess of Staphylococcus aureus may be present.
This is where the Sanubiom SkinCare Protect probiotic skin protection spray comes in.
It not only cares for the skin: with the help of Phage Technology, which is based on bacteriophages, it specifically combats harmful bacteria that promote inflammation and weaken the skin barrier.
This soothes and strengthens the skin, balances the skin flora and prevents inflammation from the outset.
Staphylococcus aureus is a particularly dangerous pathogen because it is very versatile and capable of causing a variety of infections. Some of the most common infections caused by S. aureus are skin infections, wound infections, pneumonia and blood poisoning. The incubation period is 4-10 days.
Another problem is that S. aureus is able to develop antibiotic resistance. This means that it is resistant to many of the antibiotics normally used to treat infections. This can make it difficult to treat infections successfully and increases the risk of complications and death.
Another reason why Staphylococcus aureus is so dangerous is its ability to adapt and survive in a variety of environments. It can survive in both clean and unhygienic environments and spread quickly, especially in facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.
In summary, Staphylococcus aureus is a particularly dangerous pathogen because it is capable of causing a variety of infections, developing antibiotic resistance and spreading rapidly in different environments. It is important to be aware of the risks and take appropriate precautions to avoid infections and be able to treat them quickly.
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens of staphylococcal infections.
There are also some rarer but potentially serious infections that can be caused by staphylococci, such as heart valve inflammation, endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome.
It is important to note that some strains of staphylococci are resistant to certain antibiotics, which makes treatment more difficult. These strains are known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Symptoms caused by Staphylococcus aureus can vary depending on the type of infection. Some of the most common symptoms are
Some of these symptoms may be similar to other infections and it is important to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
It is important to note that some infections can be asymptomatic and still pose a health risk.
Staphylococcus aureus can be transmitted in various ways:
Direct contact: The bacteria can be transmitted from one person to another through direct contact, e.g. by shaking hands or sharing objects such as towels or razors.
Indirect contact: The bacteria can also be transmitted through indirect contact, e.g. by touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the bacteria and then touching the face or a wound.
Airborne transmission: In some cases, S. aureus can be transmitted through the air, e.g. in people who have pneumonia.
Foodborne transmission: S. aureus can also be transmitted through contaminated food.
It is particularly important that people at increased risk of infection, such as those with weakened immune systems or patients in hospitals, take extra care and follow good hygiene measures to avoid transmission of S. aureus.
If Staphylococcus infections are not treated, this can lead to serious health complications.
It is therefore important to treat Staphylococcus infections as quickly as possible in order to avoid serious health complications. This can be achieved by using antibiotics or bacteriophages that are tailored to the cause of the infection.
There are also some rarer but potentially serious infections that can be caused by staphylococci, such as heart valve inflammation, endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome.
It is important to note that some strains of staphylococci are resistant to certain antibiotics, which makes treatment more difficult. These strains are known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Symptoms caused by Staphylococcus aureus can vary depending on the type of infection. Some of the most common symptoms are
Some of these symptoms may be similar to other infections and it is important to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
It is important to note that some infections can be asymptomatic and still pose a health risk.
If staphylococcal infections are not treated, they can worsen and cause complications. The severity of the complications depends on the type of infection and the state of health of the person affected.
Some of the possible complications are
It is important that staphylococcal infections are recognized and treated early to avoid complications. If you have symptoms of an infection, you should see a doctor to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
The survival time of Staphylococcus aureus depends on various factors, such as the environment and the conditions in which it is found.
Under certain conditions, Staphylococcus aureus can survive in the human body for several days or even weeks. Outside the body, however, it can survive on surfaces such as door handles, cell phones and other objects for only a few hours or days, depending on conditions such as humidity, temperature and light.
It is important to regularly clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that may have come into contact with Staphylococcus aureus to prevent the transmission of infection.
A person can get Staphylococcus aureus in several ways, including:
It is important to follow good hygiene measures such as regular hand washing and disinfecting surfaces to reduce the risk of infection
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