Hello, my village people! It’s Dr. Okenye, your village doctor, here again. The first thing you need to know is that certain strains of staphylococcus commonly live in your nose and on your skin. It is part of the normal flora, which means that it is part of the microorganisms on the surface of your skin and in your nostrils. Serious infections occur when the bacteria get inside your body, for instance, through the outer layer of your skin into deeper layers or through your nose into your lungs, GI tract, bloodstream, or heart.
To find out if you are at risk of a staphylococcus infection, ask yourself these simple questions:
- Do you inject drugs?
- Are you hospitalized, or do you have a urinary catheter, recent surgery, or devices in your body like a cardiac pacemaker or mechanical heart valve?
- Do you have a weakened immune system?
- Are you breastfeeding?
- Are you wearing a tampon for an extended period?
- Do you have congenital heart defects?
- Do you have chronic conditions like diabetes, vascular disease, or eczema?
If you do not have any of these conditions, then you are likely not at risk of serious infections.
What You Need to Know About Staphylococcus Infections
In a video circulating about getting Staphylococcus from using gym equipment. The video is not clear as it isn’t specific about what kind of skin infection the person was diagnosed with, so I cannot verify or debunk this claim without asking more questions. Was it a boil, abscess, blister, cellulitis, or staph scalded skin syndrome?
Although bacteria can be present on many surfaces, including gym equipment used by others, it would be difficult to prove she actually got a skin infection from a gym surface given that certain strains of staph are part of the skin flora. She could have had a break in her skin that allowed her to self-inoculate or infect herself. Regardless, these skin infections are quite easy to treat.
Finally, please note that Staph is not an STI. I received a question recently from a lady who was accused by her boyfriend of cheating because she “tested positive” for staph on a urinary test. First, many urine tests performed at many labs are completely falsified, and I have been able to prove it. Be sure you go to a reputable lab to get your blood and urine tests done. Also, remember that even if you test positive for Staph on a urine test, it is a UTI and is absolutely NOT sexually transmitted.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting any new medication or treatment. This publication and authors does not endorse or recommend any specific medication and is not liable for any adverse effects from the use of this information. You can learn more about Dr. Okenye.