Page 84 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2019

HEALTHY LIVING caution
story by Lynn Lofton
photo courtesy of Priyanka Srivastav, M.D.
taph infection is something no one wants, but it happens. Staphylococcus is a type of gram positive bacteria and the infection caused by this particular bacteria is called staph infection.
The type, clinical features and severity of this infection vary based on the site of infection, virulence of the bacteria and the immunity of the patient, according to Priyanka Srivastav, M.D., an internist with Singing River Health System. “The most common
the risk for infection.”
There are precautions that can be taken to avoid
staph infection. “The spread of the bacteria can be prevented by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water or applying an alcohol-
site of infection is
skin and soft tissue. The other potential sites of infection
are lungs (causes
staph pneumonia), heart (causes staph endocarditis), bone and joints (staph osteomyelitis, arthritis) brain (meningitis, brain abscess) and digestive tract (food poisoning, diarrhea, vomiting),” she said.
How does someone
get this infection? “The
infection may spread contagiously by direct touch or by spreading,” Srivastav said. “However, the bacteria may also travel through the blood stream and cause infection in various organs. Moreover, any invasive procedure — if sterility is not maintained — may increase the risk of infection. Artificial medical devices such as prosthetic valves and joints, pacemakers and catheters also increase
The spread of the bacteria can be prevented
by thoroughly washing your hands with
soap and water or applying an alcohol-based sanitizer prior to contact
based sanitizer prior to contact,” the doctor says. “Also,
a prophylaxis with antibiotics can be considered in certain medical situations, especially prior to invasive procedures if the person is at
a higher risk of infection. Those situations should be discussed with the health care provider.”
She cautions that anyone with an active
84 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2019
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Priyanka Srivastav, M.D.
staph skin infection should not handle food. At its worst, there can be complications with a
staph infection. “An untreated staph infection may lead to complications such as abscess, sepsis and multi-organ failure,” Srivastav says. “Any delay in the recognition and treatment of infection poses the risk of complications. It’s always better to discuss with your medical provider if you’ve any concerns regarding the infection.”