Other names used for this microbe:
-
MRSA - when it has particular resistance to antibiotics
-
"Hospital Superbug" - although that name is confusing now that other "superbugs" have arisen
-
Staph. aureus and S. aureus - when the name is shortened
-
Golden staph - which comes from the colour of its colonies in labs.
Where does it come from and why?
This bacteria lives in the nostrils of almost all people and is usually completely harmless. It can also often be found on the skin, again without any concern. Problems occur when the skin is broken and the bacteria gains entry.
How does it invade and affect people?
Staphylococcus aureus has an alarming array of what are called Virulence Factors, methods of exploiting opportunities whenever they arise. The most common and serious invasion method is via surgical wounds and broken skin. It produces a variety of toxins that lead to different diseases.
Diseases caused
Septic shock - one type of toxin is released during septicaemia when Staphylococcus aureus is multiplying in the blood. This toxin damages cells causing them to leak fluid leading to septic shock.
Food poisoning - another toxin causes food poisoning with vomiting and diarrhoea when infected food is eaten. This toxin survives cooking so even though the bacteria may be dead the toxin still causes disease.
Toxic shock - a further particularly powerful toxin that tricks certain defence cells in the body into thinking they are being attacked. In response those cells release their own toxic defence chemicals but because so many respond at once the patient dies from their own defence chemicals with what is called toxic shock.
Treatment
Staphylococcus aureus has an amazing ability to develop resistance to antibiotics but surprisingly once one Staphylococcus aureus has developed resistance it does NOT automatically mean that all have the new resistance. Therefore hospitals always grow the actual strain causing the disease to establish which antibiotic to use ? in some cases very old antibiotics are effective against modern strains. But there is sufficient antibiotic resistance to raise a high level of concern that soon there will be strains that are completely resistant to treatment with antibiotics.
MRSA is a name derived from the first letters of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Resistance to methicillin is now very common and most strains that have resistance to that antibiotic also have resistance to many other antibiotics. Some experts suggest that the "M" in MRSA should now stand for Multiple to emphasise the seriousness of this multiple resistance.
Prevention
One of the main prevention methods is common-sense good hygiene and especially thorough decontamination of hands. In hospitals that has not happened for a number of reasons, the main one being that the hand hygiene products made available to staff can cause damage to their hands. Chronic occupational dermatitis is too common in hospital care workers, especially those who need to use antimicrobial hand washes many times a day. Almost all these products will prevent Staph infection but since staff fail to use them often enough the infections continue to occur.
Is there any GOOD NEWS?
Yes - NewGenn? has approached the challenge from a new angle. Traditional hand hygiene products were made by selecting a chemical that killed the bacteria, and then seeing what effect that chemical had on hands. NewGenn? started with natural plant oil to ensure the hands were protected and then progressed to killing the bacteria. As a result staff who use the NewGenn? products quickly find the damage to their hands has gone so they use the products more often thereby preventing infection.
These NewGenn? products are very safe and can be used in households, nurseries, nursing homes and schools.
