Is staphylococcus transmitted by airborne droplets? Causes, symptoms, degrees and treatment of staphylococcus. How is it transmitted

Staphylococcus is a bacterium that can cause many infectious diseases in humans that vary in location, symptoms and severity.

There are 27 types of staphylococci, and 14 of them can live on the epidermis and mucous membranes of a healthy person. To protect yourself from a number of ailments, you need to know how staphylococcus is transmitted and where you can become infected with it.

Routes of transmission of staphylococcus

Hand washing is a way to protect against staphylococcus

The main routes of infection with staphylococcus, leading to the development of diseases, primarily of the respiratory system, are airborne dust and airborne droplets. Inhaling bacteria along with air, droplets of saliva of the human carrier and dust, they penetrate into the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. As bacteria descend, they can cause bronchitis and pneumonia.

Together with dust, dirty hands or through contaminated dressing, the pathogen can get on a wound or burn surface - this is how they become infected with staphylococcus. Cracks in the nipples of a nursing woman, scratches and microtraumas on the skin, for example, the place where a hangnail is torn off, can also become entry points. All this leads to suppuration.

People infected with staphylococcus or who are its carriers pose a greater threat. They spread pathogenic microorganisms through household items, food, personal hygiene items, and a handshake. Such people working as cooks, waiters, and medical workers pose a particular danger.

Intestinal infections occur when staphylococcus is transmitted through dirty hands. This route of infection is possible when personal hygiene is not observed after visiting public toilets, or when a person does not wash his hands before eating. Another option for the penetration of a microorganism into digestive tract is utensils processed not according to all rules in catering establishments, kindergartens, schools, hospitals. This can lead to real epidemics.

Another method of transmission of staphylococcus bacteria occurs in the absence of asepsis and antisepsis in dental and manipulation rooms, surgical hospitals and beauty salons. Staphylococcus is transmitted through contaminated equipment directly into the blood, which can lead not only to the formation of abscesses and cellulitis, but also to sepsis.

The infection enters the genitourinary system through untreated catheters, unprotected sexual intercourse (including as a result of oral sex, if one of the partners is sick with staphylococcal sore throat). Penetrating through the urethra, by upward path the pathogen can cause various inflammatory diseases, including prostatitis, cystitis, nephritis, orchitis, vaginitis, endometritis.

Staphylococcus is transmitted along with contaminated food products when preparation or storage technology is violated; most often, unboiled milk or raw eggs, obtained from sick animals.

The danger of staphylococcus infection during childbirth

Why and how is staphylococcal infection transmitted in the maternity hospital? The greatest danger is posed by staphylococcus, which a newborn becomes infected with in the maternity hospital. The pathogen can cause the development of dermatitis, damage to the bronchi and lungs, umbilical wound, eye, call severe dysbacteriosis intestines and even sepsis in a child. For the mother, the bacterium is no less dangerous, as it can lead to mastitis and infection of the birth canal and genitourinary system generally.

The most dire consequences occur when Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted to the child from the environment, air and objects of the maternity hospital, which is often the cause of hospital infections that are not amenable to antibiotic therapy.

Let's list how you can become infected with staphylococcus in a maternity hospital:

1. from mother to baby, during childbirth, through the genitals, as well as during breastfeeding, in the presence of mastitis;
2. when visiting relatives who are carriers, during close contact between people;
3. from infected medical personnel;
4. in the presence of a pathogen in the air, on instruments, equipment, in food, including infant formula.

When and how can you get a staph infection? Not always when a microbe gets on mucous membranes, skin or Airways, one or another disease develops.

This requires the presence of a contributing factor, a decrease in the body’s protective reactions when there is no required level of immunity, as a result of:

• taking antibiotics;
• transferred viral diseases, including influenza, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections;
• having HIV or malignant neoplasms, especially against the background of radiotherapy and chemotherapy;
• after operations, polytraumas, childbirth;
• imbalance of intestinal microflora;
• neonatal period.

Nowadays it is one of the most common infections. According to official data, more than forty percent of the population is infected with it. The pathogen is distinguished by its ability to cause severe pathologies, including brain damage, pneumonia and even blood poisoning.

Today we will talk about how you can become infected with staphylococcus.

Microorganisms have a huge number of strains. The most dangerous among them is Staphylococcus aureus. However, other types are no less dangerous. They differ to varying degrees intensity. As soon as the body's defenses are weakened, infection, if ingested, can lead to a serious pathological process.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that the pathogen produces a huge amount of toxic substances that are destructive to the entire body.

The pathogen can lead to severe pathologies, one of which is sepsis. In addition, it has a detrimental effect on nervous system, brain, leads to the formation of purulent neoplasms.

Staphylococcus

Infection very often occurs after suffering from various pathological conditions, when the body is weak and unable to resist. It is worth noting the phenomenal resistance of microorganisms to external influences. They have also adapted to different types antibacterial drugs.

Every modern man You must know how staphylococcus is transmitted between people in order to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Transfer Features

The infection has the ability to penetrate through the skin and mucous membranes. The route of spread is airborne droplets or dust. When the agent penetrates the blood, it means that the pest has managed to overcome the protective barriers.

Who is at risk:

1. People suffering from the disorder carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes.
2. Persons with weakened immune systems.
3. Patients after injuries and operations.
4. Children and elderly people.
5. Women in position.
6. Breastfeeding period.

No one is immune from this terrible infection. But not everyone gets staphylococcus activated and harms health, causing pathological conditions. There are a lot of people in the world who are passive carriers.

In medicine, there are three main routes of transmission of staphylococcus:

1. Contact.
2. Air.
3. Nutritional.

Let's look at each of them separately.

Contact transmission method

When it enters fresh wounds, the pathogen begins to provoke the development of purulent foci.

Often infection occurs during surgical interventions, as well as various manipulations that require the use of devices, in contact with the internal environment of the human body:

1. Hemodialysis.
2. Intravenous feeding of premature infants.
3. Artificial ventilation.

If instrumental study performed with non-sterile surgical instruments, infection occurs very often.

In hospitals and clinics, the pathogen can enter the body through unsterilely cleaned instruments

Even with a piercing, you can get infected. Getting tattoos is also dangerous. The risk category includes drug addicts.

In hospitals and clinics, the pathogen can enter a fresh wound from medical workers due to improper hand cleaning.

If the immune system is strong, then in the affected areas inflammatory process slows down a bit.

It is worth noting that children are especially susceptible to infection. They become infected while playing in sandboxes, or through contact with dirty toys.

Air (aerogenic) path

As is known, microorganisms live on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx and leave their “carriers” along with the exhaled air. If you come into contact with an infected person, you may also become infected through communication by air. The trigger is weak immunity, cracks and skin lesions, small pathological lesions.

IN severe cases, for example, with AIDS, infection in the lungs can be fatal.

Nutritional method

Infection often occurs through consumption of different foods. There the pathogen spreads, producing harmful substances. If you eat such food, the patient will become infected and poisoned.

Infants become infected through the passage of the mother's birth canal. Often the pathogen enters the body through cracks in the nipples of a woman who is breastfeeding.

How to find out if you are infected

Manifestations depend on which specific organ was affected. The stage of severity is influenced by the aggression of the pathogen and the condition immune system.

Main complaints:

1. Purulent-inflammatory processes.
2. Gastrointestinal tract disorder.
3. Rashes in the form of ulcers, carbuncles, pimples.
4. Purulent mastitis of the breast.

Staphylococcal lesions of the mucous membrane

When an infection penetrates the nasopharyngeal mucosa, tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis and other diseases of the ENT organs may occur.

If the pathogen enters the respiratory tract, especially of young children, this leads to the development of severe forms of pneumonia.

When it gets into the bones, osteomyelitis develops and so on.

General signs of infection:

1. Increase in temperature indicators.
2. Redness in areas of inflammation.
3. Swelling.
4. Pain.
5. Functional disorders of organs.

The rise in temperature is caused by the outflow of blood to the pathological area. This causes vasodilation and a decrease in blood flow in the veins.

All these symptoms occur as defensive reaction for the introduction of a foreign agent.

Similar manifestations are observed in adults. Children and the elderly may show other signs.

Therapeutic measures

The task is not easy. The most important thing is to find out whether the pathogen is resistant to a certain type of antibiotic. Use of bacteriophages and antibiotics wide range actions are the most popular techniques.

Before prescribing treatment, it is mandatory to perform a culture from the painful lesion to determine susceptibility to drugs. Then the specialist prescribes a combined examination, which includes taking immunomodulatory drugs that restore normal microflora.

The most important thing is to complete the course of therapy and follow all doctor’s recommendations.

Prevention measures

The answer to the question of whether staphylococcus is transmitted from person to person is clear - it is transmitted. Therefore, everyone should know about important and correct measures to prevent infection. Every year, microorganisms become more resistant to antibiotics and seriously harm health.

It is important to know! Staphylococcus is not afraid of freezing and ultraviolet radiation. The pathogen is sensitive to brilliant green and a 5% phenol solution.

Staphylococcus is not afraid of freezing and ultraviolet radiation

The following measures will help protect you from exposure to this terrible infection:

1. Strict adherence to hygienic principles.
2. Active lifestyle, including regular exercise, balanced diet, no harm.
3. Prevention of respiratory viral infections during the season.
4. Timely treatment caries, diseases of the genitourinary system, ENT organs.
5. Consumption of thermally processed foods.
6. Refusal of services from unverified establishments: tattoo parlors, manicures, etc.
7. Strict processing of medical instruments.
8. Timely contact with doctors at the first symptoms of damage.

Now you know whether you can become infected with staphylococcus from a person. Be attentive to your own health and the health of those close to you.

In contact with

We are surrounded by many bacteria. Staphylococci are one of them. These microbes can remain for a long time on the mucous membranes of the body or in gastrointestinal system and don’t prove yourself by waiting favorable conditions. Gradually reducing a person's immunity, the bacterium spreads throughout the body, causing many diseases. It is important to know how Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted in order to be able to prevent infection.

Development of infection

Staphylococci are characterized by immunity to high and very low temperatures, as well as to many drugs. They cannot be killed by repeated freezing or hydrogen peroxide, and they can also live in salt for a long time.

To the question whether staphylococcus is transmitted, there is a clear answer: it can be infected from a carrier of the bacterium. Moreover, this person will not necessarily be sick. Long time the existence of staphylococci in the body can occur asymptomatically. And if there are no signs, then treatment cannot be started, since bacteria can adapt to antibiotics, and if the disease manifests itself, the fight against the microorganism will be difficult.

How can you become infected with Staphylococcus aureus?

People with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to infection with staphylococci. The infection can be transmitted in the following ways:

1. Infection with staphylococci occurs as a result of violation of personal hygiene rules and medical institutions. The likelihood of infection is increased among injection drug users.
2. How else do they get infected? Staphylococcus aureus? By airborne droplets when interacting with a carrier of a bacteria that may not manifest itself in him. Staphylococci can be located on dirty surfaces, in dust, and are often transmitted through interaction with contaminated objects, for example, bus handrails.
3. The bacteria can be transmitted infant With mother's milk, intrauterine infection is also possible.

Where can you get infected with Staphylococcus aureus?

The process of transmission of staphylococcus most often occurs in hospitals during intravenous procedures using medical equipment, for example, when feeding through veins, inserting catheters, hemodialysis.

The bacteria can enter the body through food. The bacterium develops well in stale milk, canned food, kefir and cakes.

Staphylococcus is also transmitted sexually. During intimate contact with an infected person, the bacteria can penetrate the mucous membranes into the genitourinary system.

The bacterium freely enters the body through cuts, wounds, and burns.

Treatment and prevention

Having understood how Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted, it is now important to learn methods to prevent possible infection, including:

• compliance with personal hygiene measures;
• timely cleaning of the premises;
• by taking vitamins regularly physical exercise;
• If wounds occur, be sure to treat them with brilliant green or iodine, and also cover them with a bandage or plaster.

The fight against staphylococcal infection is complicated by the fact that the bacterium can develop resistance to the action of antimicrobial and other drugs. It is important to complete the full course of treatment so as not to provoke adaptation in the virus. If the course has not been completed, then antibiotics will be powerless in the future.

Staphylococcus aureus is a fairly well-studied bacterium today, but this does not make it any less dangerous. It can cause a huge number of all kinds of infectious diseases in any person. How is it transmitted? Who is at risk? How to protect yourself from this microorganism? Let's try to answer all these questions.

There are many ways through which bacteria can enter the human body, but most often this happens through airborne droplets or airborne dust. The microorganism easily penetrates mucous membranes and dirty hands. It is also easy to become infected through open wounds, eyes, blood, burns. Through products, catheters, instruments it enters human body staphylococcus How is the bacterium transmitted sexually and is it possible? Unfortunately yes. The microorganism penetrates through the mucous membranes during sexual intercourse genitourinary tract, where it will begin its development.

The bacterium is not afraid of either high or low temperatures, neither sun rays, nor many strong chemical substances. It easily survives in the most aggressive conditions and quickly adapts to many antibiotics.

How is Staphylococcus aureus transmitted to other organs after entering the body? Quick and easy - with blood flow. According to statistics, approximately 31% of infections occur in medical institutions.

How is Staphylococcus aureus transmitted, or Who is at risk?

First of all, this group should include people who, for one reason or another, have reduced immunity, those who often give injections, resort to the use of transplants. It should be said that this type Staphylococcus is an opportunistic bacteria. This means that having full and normal conditions life, good food, a strong person will feel great even if it is present in the body. Yes, the bacteria will be there (either on the mucous membranes, or in the intestines, etc.), but it will not provoke any illnesses. A person will not even know about its existence in his body. However, as soon as the immune system weakens due to injuries, dysbacteriosis, or after a course of antibiotics, the microorganism will make itself felt. Also at risk are children who are often sick and women in the postpartum period.

Prevention

So, you know how Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted. Now the logical question is: “How to protect yourself from its manifestation?” It may sound banal, but following basic rules of personal hygiene is the key to health. It is very useful to play sports, strengthen the immune system in all possible ways, and you should also give up destructive bad habits. It is necessary to purchase only fresh and high-quality products and prepare food thoroughly. Never ignore even the smallest scratches or abrasions, because these are ideal “gates” for bacteria to enter. Remember that this microorganism can cause more than a hundred diseases! Take care of yourself and be healthy!