Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or staph, are a common factor in the cause of skin infections. Symptoms of staph infections depend on where an infection is located and can include:
- Boils, or furuncles, which are abscesses in the skin.
- Folliculitis, an infection situated on hair follicles.
- Cellulitis, a localized infection resulting in the skin being painful, warm and red.
- Impetigo, which may either cause blisters or crusted, honey colored lesions on affected skin.
- Paronychia, where the skin folds of nails are infected.
In addition to these skin infections, staph may also cause a blood infection known as bacteremia; endocarditis, an infection of heart valves; abscesses deep within the body; a lymph gland infection known as lymphadenitis or infections of the lymph channels, known as lymphangitis.
Other conditions caused by staph bacteria may include bone infections, or osteomyelitis; septic arthritis, styes, toxic shock syndrome, food poisoning and scalded skin syndrome.
Unfortunately, MRSA, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is also resistant to penicillin, cephalosporins and amoxicillin, is now also becoming quite common.
Before a suitable treatment can be prescribed, tests are required whether the infection is caused by the normal staph aureus, MRS or another type of bacteria.
The usual treatment, antistaphylococcal antibiotics, for staph infections may range from antibiotic creams, such as Bactobran or Altabax, for impetigo to drainage and warm compresses for boils and oral or intravenous antibiotics for more serious and/ or persistent infections.
For most of the common staph infections, oral antibiotics like the first generation cephalosporins Duricef or Keflex will be prescribed, so yes, Keflex can treat staph.
For community transmitted MRSA infections, oral antibiotics such as TMP-SMX or Bactrim may be sufficient, while the more serious, multi drug resistant MRSA infections may require hospitalisation and treatment with vancomycin. Some cases may in addition require surgical drainage.
- Boils, or furuncles, which are abscesses in the skin.
- Folliculitis, an infection situated on hair follicles.
- Cellulitis, a localized infection resulting in the skin being painful, warm and red.
- Impetigo, which may either cause blisters or crusted, honey colored lesions on affected skin.
- Paronychia, where the skin folds of nails are infected.
In addition to these skin infections, staph may also cause a blood infection known as bacteremia; endocarditis, an infection of heart valves; abscesses deep within the body; a lymph gland infection known as lymphadenitis or infections of the lymph channels, known as lymphangitis.
Other conditions caused by staph bacteria may include bone infections, or osteomyelitis; septic arthritis, styes, toxic shock syndrome, food poisoning and scalded skin syndrome.
Unfortunately, MRSA, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is also resistant to penicillin, cephalosporins and amoxicillin, is now also becoming quite common.
Before a suitable treatment can be prescribed, tests are required whether the infection is caused by the normal staph aureus, MRS or another type of bacteria.
The usual treatment, antistaphylococcal antibiotics, for staph infections may range from antibiotic creams, such as Bactobran or Altabax, for impetigo to drainage and warm compresses for boils and oral or intravenous antibiotics for more serious and/ or persistent infections.
For most of the common staph infections, oral antibiotics like the first generation cephalosporins Duricef or Keflex will be prescribed, so yes, Keflex can treat staph.
For community transmitted MRSA infections, oral antibiotics such as TMP-SMX or Bactrim may be sufficient, while the more serious, multi drug resistant MRSA infections may require hospitalisation and treatment with vancomycin. Some cases may in addition require surgical drainage.
