How is Staphylococcus aureus transmitted? Risk group, prevention. How is staphylococcus transmitted from person to person?

We are surrounded by many bacteria. Staphylococci are one of them. These microbes can remain on the mucous membranes of the body or in the gastrointestinal system for a long time and do not manifest themselves until favorable conditions. Gradually reducing a person's immunity, the bacterium spreads throughout the body, causing many diseases. It is important to know how it is transmitted Staphylococcus aureus 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:

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.
How else do you get infected with 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.
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.

Fight with staphylococcal infection complicated by the fact that the bacterium is capable of developing 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.

Staphylococci are gram-positive, sedentary microorganisms of regular spherical shape, prone to forming clusters, resembling bunches of grapes in appearance. These are opportunistic bacteria that live on the skin and mucous membrane of humans and, with strong immunity, do not provoke any dangerous diseases.

Staphylococcus has many strains (27), of which the most common and pathogenic are aureus, saprophytic, epidermal and hemolytic. Each of these strains has varying degrees aggressiveness and danger to the body. When the protective forces are weakened, staphylococcus, once inside the body, can cause a strong inflammatory process.

The danger of these bacteria lies in the enzymes and toxins they produce, which are destructive to cells and disrupt their vital processes, affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue and connective tissue. Staphylococci can cause very dangerous diseases, including sepsis, intoxication of the body, pneumonia, toxic shock, purulent skin lesions, central nervous system disorders.

Also, these microorganisms are often the cause of complications after various types of diseases. Staphylococci are quite resistant to environmental influences and have strong resistance to antibiotic therapy. It is necessary to have an idea of how staphylococcus is transmitted from a sick person in order to protect yourself from infection.

Signs and symptoms of staphylococcus in the body

Symptoms of staphylococcus depend on which organ is affected. The degree of their severity is influenced by the aggression of the microorganism and the state of immunity of a particular person. Most of all staphylococcus occurs in newborn children and pregnant and lactating women, as well as people with weakened immune system(for example, after a serious illness or surgery).

Signs of Staphylococcus aureus are the occurrence of purulent-inflammatory processes in organs and tissues, gastrointestinal upset if it enters the human intestine. Often symptoms of staphylococcus entering the body are the appearance of pimples, boils, carbuncles, and skin rashes. Signs of staphylococcus also include the occurrence of purulent mastitis of the breast in women during feeding.

If bacteria enter the nasopharyngeal mucosa, staphylococcus can cause tonsillitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis and other diseases affecting the upper respiratory tract. Once in the lungs, especially of newborns, staphylococcus often causes severe bacterial pneumonia. By affecting the bones, it can cause osteomyelitis, the heart - endocarditis, the kidneys - pyelonephritis, etc.

General symptoms caused by staphylococcus infection:

Local increase in body temperature (at the site of bacterial infection)

The local rise in temperature is due to the body’s fight against the pathogen in order to prevent its reproduction.

Redness at the site of inflammation

The appearance of hypermia is caused by a rush of blood to the sore spot. At the same time, the vessels dilate, and the outflow venous blood on the contrary, it decreases. This is also a kind of protection of the body from infection. He tries to increase the flow of oxygen to the tissues in order to reduce the toxic effect of staphylococcus.

Tissue swelling (this is due to increased vascular permeability)
Painful sensations that arise due to compression of nerve endings by swelling tissues or damage to blood vessels
Decline in organ functionality due to disruption at the cellular level

These signs of staphylococcus in the body are characteristic mainly of an adult. IN at different ages symptoms may vary.

How is staphylococcus transmitted?

Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted to humans if their immunity is weakened, as well as to people who have artificially weakened immune defense body, for example, those who resort to frequent injections or have used transplants. Another way is to use intramuscular catheters or any other medical devices and instruments that come into contact with internal environment body.

Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus is possible in the case of intramuscular nutrition of children or hemodialysis. Staphylococcus is transmitted through any fresh scratches, wounds, during childbirth from mother to child, as well as through breast milk. There is a possibility of transmission of Staphylococcus aureus by coughing, sneezing, and in some cases by breathing, through food products and household items, dust.

The infection is transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary and digestive tracts. At the site where the infection has penetrated, development occurs purulent inflammation, during which there is repeated multiplication of staphylococcus and the release of toxins, which cause the manifestation of the disease.

To sources nosocomial infection These include patients who have erased forms of staphylococcal infection, or who are carriers of staphylococci. There are permanent and intermittent carriers. Constants include people who always have Staphylococcus aureus when taking a culture test from the nasopharyngeal cavity. In intermittent carriers, staphylococcus is isolated from time to time.

In addition to the well-known routes of infection, there are reasons why people are more susceptible to infection by the bacterium:

Any disease that reduces immunity (including HIV, AIDS);
Favorite chronic diseases;
Severe stress and lack of sleep;
Bad habits (smoking, alcoholism);
Poor hygiene;
Hypothermia of the body (if hypothermia occurs, it is very easy for an infection to enter the body and cause an inflammatory process);
Diabetes;
Age (children are most likely to become infected with staphylococcus - infants, preschoolers and the elderly);
Violation of the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes;
Eating contaminated foods

Treatment of staphylococcus

Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus is not an easy task, but it is quite realistic; the main thing is to prevent the microorganism from developing resistance to antibiotics. Among the most common methods of treating staphylococcus are the use of bacteriophages and the use of.

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to do a culture from the sore spot to test the sensitivity of the bacteria to antibacterial drug and bacteriophages. After this, the doctor will prescribe complex treatment, which, in addition to an antibiotic or bacteriophage, includes immunomodulatory agents and drugs aimed at restoring normal microflora body.

The main thing is to complete the entire course of treatment, following all the doctor’s instructions. Treatment of staphylococcus with folk remedies is also quite common. In this case, herbs, tinctures, pharmaceutical drugs (for example, chlorophyllipt) and external methods of treating staphylococcus are used.

Measures to prevent staphylococcus infection

Prevention in the fight against staphylococcal infection is an important and necessary measure that everyone should know about. Since every year staphylococcus becomes more and more resistant to antibacterial therapy and can cause serious harm to human health.

In a dried state, the bacterium remains viable for more than six months; in dust it can live up to 100 days. Doesn't kill staphylococcus Sun rays and freezing. The bacterium dies only from boiling, is neutralized for 15-25 minutes when treated with a 5% phenol solution and is sensitive to brilliant green.

Therefore, compliance with the following preventive measures will help maintain your health:

The main thing is, perhaps, compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, especially when it comes to hand washing;
Strengthening the immune system: active lifestyle, hardening, sports, proper nutrition, no bad habits. All these methods will help increase the body's defenses to prevent possible staphylococcus infection;
Prevention of seasonal epidemics of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections;
Timely elimination of all foci of chronic or acute infection in the body (carious teeth, inflammation in the nasopharynx, adenoids, boils, barley, inflammatory diseases genitourinary system);
Eating only clean, preferably packaged and thermally processed food products with a good shelf life;
Maintaining cleanliness and order in the apartment and workplace, regular ventilation of the room;
Refusal to visit questionable medical institutions, manicure and tattoo parlors, solariums, etc.;
Careful processing medical instruments, prevention of negligence in relation to sanitary standards.
Visit a doctor in a timely manner if you suspect a possible carriage of staphylococcus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that almost everyone has heard of. It has a spherical shape, is very resistant to external influences and remains in the environment for a long time. Most people will say with absolute certainty that this bacterium is dangerous to the body, but only a few can accurately answer how infection occurs. It is for this reason that infection often occurs, since a person, without attaching importance to some of his actions, introduces the bacterium into the body. Children and people suffering from severely weakened immune systems are most often susceptible to Staphylococcus aureus.

What is the danger of Staphylococcus aureus

The particular danger of Staphylococcus aureus is associated with its increased aggressiveness. Doctors most often call it the most persistent bacterium. The danger of this causative agent of a number of diseases is explained by its following properties:

increased resistance to antiseptic effects - the bacterium can survive boiling for 10 minutes, repeated freezing and treatment with various antiseptic drugs, with the exception of greenery;
resistance to antibiotics penicillin series: the bacterium produces special enzymes - penicillinase and lidase, which allow it to withstand the effects of antibiotics and easily melt the skin, penetrating the body;
production of endotoxin - it quickly causes food and general poisoning, and in some cases even provokes infectious-toxic shock.

After being infected with Staphylococcus aureus, the patient does not develop lifelong immunity, and re-infection can easily occur.

Ways of infection with Staphylococcus aureus

Today, doctors identify 4 ways of infection with Staphylococcus aureus.

Aerogenic infection

In this way, the disease is transmitted from person to person if the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx is affected by staphylococcus. When breathing, the patient releases bacteria into the environment, which, together with microscopic particles of saliva, remain in the air for a long time. The greatest likelihood of infection occurs when you are in the same room with a sick person.

When inhaling contaminated air, bacteria extremely rarely remain on the mucous membrane and penetrate directly into the lungs, which is why the infected person develops rapid pneumonia, which is quite difficult to cope with due to the fact that the antibiotics that are used to routinely treat the disease are practically ineffective. It is for this reason that the mortality rate from pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus is very high. With aerogenic infection, the maximum fatal outcome is observed.

Contact infection

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria often live on human skin, but they do not cause diseases as long as the immune system is good and there are no extensive wound surfaces. However, such a carrier of infection is dangerous for others, since upon contact with him, as well as through common household items, pathogenic bacteria pass from him to a healthy person. If there are no wounds on the skin, then nothing will happen, but if staphylococcus gets on damaged skin, then it will not be possible to avoid infection. Quite often, this is how infection with Staphylococcus aureus occurs in medical institutions. This method of infection is the most common. It extremely rarely leads to the death of the patient.

Infection through food

Since Staphylococcus aureus tolerates freezing and heat treatment, it quite often enters the body along with food of animal origin. You can get the bacteria by consuming the following foods:

meat;
fish;
dairy products;
eggs.

Once in the stomach, the bacterium releases a large amount of toxic substances that cause severe poisoning, but the bacterium itself, in the absence of wounds on the mucous membrane, quickly dies under the influence of of hydrochloric acid. If there is damage to the gastric mucosa, then the entry of staphylococcus into the body results in extremely severe damage to the body, quite often leading to the death of the patient even with timely seeking medical help.

Artificial infection

Since Staphylococcus aureus is very persistent and tolerates many chemical antiseptics and high temperatures, in the case of poor-quality sterilization of instruments in medical institutions, it is easily transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one. According to statistics, 70% of all cases of infection with Staphylococcus aureus occur in medical institutions.
The consequences of Staphylococcus aureus entering the body are very dangerous and require long-term and complex treatment. It is for this reason that doctors call the bacterium the most dangerous of all types of widespread pathogens.

About 40% of the total population Russian Federation are permanent carriers of this opportunistic bacterium. Therefore, it is very important to know how Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted.

Staphylococcus aureus(Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of spherical gram-positive bacteria that is one of the four most common pathogens found inside medical institutions. This bacterium belongs to the genus of staphylococci from the class of bacilli, received this name because of the golden hue of its colonies.

MECHANISM OF INFECTION

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most resistant of its kind to influence external factors. It is precisely because of the significant resistance to influence high temperatures Most antibiotics and many disinfectants can easily become infected with Staphylococcus aureus.

Infection occurs by bacteria entering the mucous membranes and skin covering person. Getting into human body Under the influence of various factors that promote active reproduction, the bacterium can cause a fairly wide range of diseases, ranging from mild to life-threatening.

ROUTES OF INFECTION

Staphylococcus aureus is mainly transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets(when sneezing or severe cough). With this route of infection transmission, the bacterium enters the nasal mucosa or oral cavity a healthy person in contact with a sick person or a medical worker who has been in contact with an infected person.

Along with the above-described method of infection, there are several other ways for these pathogenic bacteria to enter the human body.

Ways of infection with Staphylococcus aureus:

Contact. Due to the high resistance of bacteria to a wide range of temperatures, ultraviolet radiation and most disinfectants, infection can be acquired through contact of affected skin with surfaces and household items that have been used by an infected person.
Artificial. Quite often, Staphylococcus aureus becomes infected in hospitals due to improper or incomplete sterilization of medical equipment. This is due to negligence medical personnel, and also due to the high resistance of the bacterium to most special antiseptics.
Nutritional. The route of infection is through human food. In this case, the danger is not the microorganism itself, but its waste product - enterotoxin, which, when it enters the stomach, causes severe food intoxication in the body. Staphylococcus aureus itself dies under the influence of gastric juice.
Airborne dust. In this case, the bacterium enters the body with particles of inhaled dust.

In children, Staphylococcus aureus can be transmitted by sharing soft toys, cutlery, or pacifiers.

Staphylococcus aureus poses the greatest danger if the bacteria enters the human bloodstream. Most often this occurs due to reduced immunity, as a result of which the microorganism overcomes the protective lymphatic barriers and quickly spreads throughout the body, infecting it.

RISK FACTORS AND GROUPS

A number of factors “help” to transmit Staphylococcus aureus from a sick person to a relatively healthy person. The main one is the weak level protective properties body due to transferred colds or a long course of taking antibiotic drugs.

Other factors include significant hypothermia, a long acclimatization process and the use of incorrectly selected antimicrobial medications.

Based on how Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted, in the process of making a diagnosis, at the first symptoms of the disease, they take into account the fact that the risk group mainly includes medical workers who are constantly in contact with infected people, young children, and elderly people with weakened immune systems.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Since the main routes of transmission of Staphylococcus aureus are airborne and artificial, when developing preventive measures, an emphasis was placed on these mechanisms of infection spread.

Of the main preventive measures the following can be distinguished.

Strict compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards workers of medical institutions.
Compliance with precautions when in contact with infected people (use gauze bandages, thorough hand washing with special antiseptic agents).
Eating food that stored under appropriate conditions, which is far from expiring.

Even people with the strongest immunity should not wonder whether Staphylococcus aureus is contagious. A 100% guarantee against infection is provided only by strict adherence to the above-described preventive measures.

Found a mistake? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter