Staph infections are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus, which stems from the Greek words staphyle, or bunches of grapes, and kokkos, meaning berry. Under a microscope, Staphylococcus looks just that: a circular, bunched up bacteria, and usually causes no problems. In fact, the staphylococcus bacteria can be found in the nose or on the skin of about 30% of the world’s population of healthy adults. On top of that, 25% of hospital workers are already carriers of Staphylococcus.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a strain of staph resistant to the antibiotics methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin. Commonly referred to as a “superbug” because of its antibiotic-resistant properties, it can be found causing illness in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and other health care facilities.
MRSA is an incredibly dangerous form of staph, and is becoming increasingly more difficult to cure with antibiotics alone. Because this aggressive antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be found in hospitals and other locations, health professionals everywhere need to be on the lookout for this deadly bacteria.
If a staph infection does occur, it usually causes a minor skin infection. A staph infection may result in boils, impetigo, or cellulitis of the skin, causing red, swollen, painful lumps, with possible drainage and other symptoms are below including those related to infertility in both male and female.