Staphylococcus bacteria are generally not harmful. However, staph infections can, in some cases, be deadly if they are not treated properly. In this article, we discuss staph infection in detail, how to treat the condition, and prevention tips. Read on to know more.
What Is A Staph Infection?
Staph infections are bacterial infections caused by different strains of the Staphylococcus bacteria. These bacteria are commonly found on the skin and inside the nose of healthy individuals. They hardly cause any issues most of the times, excluding some minor skin infections in some people. However, if the staph bacteria enter deeper into your body, the situation can turn deadly. They can invade your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, and heart. Of late, a growing number of otherwise healthy people have been developing lethal staph infections. The signs and symptoms of a staph infection may vary depending on the type of infection it triggers.
Staph Infection – Types And Symptoms
The common skin infections triggered by the Staphylococcus bacteria are:
Boils – They usually develop as pockets of pus in the hair follicles or oil glands. The skin surrounding the infected area tends to look swollen and red. Impetigo – It is a contagious infection characterized by painful rashes and large fluid-filled blisters that develop a honey-colored crust. Cellulitis – This staph infection occurs in the deeper layers of the skin. It causes redness, swelling, and, in some cases, oozing ulcers on the skin. Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome – Staphylococcus bacteria can produce toxins, which results in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. It is quite common in babies and children. This infection is characterized by fever, rashes, and blisters. In some cases, the topmost layer of the blistered skin may come off to reveal a raw surface that resembles a burn.
A staph infection may also trigger the following conditions:
Food Poisoning – One of the leading causes of food poisoning is staph bacteria. Its symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea, and/or low blood pressure. Septicemia – This condition is also known as blood poisoning. It is caused as a result of staph bacteria entering a person’s bloodstream. The symptoms are fever and low blood pressure. Septicemia can also result in infections that affect the internal organs (like the brain, heart, or lungs), bones, muscles, and surgically implanted devices (like artificial joints). Toxic Shock Syndrome – This condition is also triggered by the toxins released by some strains of the Staphylococcus bacteria. It has been linked to certain kinds of tampons, surgery, and wounds. The symptoms of toxic shock syndrome are:High fever Vomiting Nausea Diarrhea Stomach pain Confusion Muscle aches Rashes on the palms or soles Septic Arthritis – It targets the knees, fingers, toes, hips, and shoulders. This type of arthritis is caused due to the invasion of the joints by infectious agents like staph bacteria. The symptoms of septic arthritis may include:Swelling in the joints Pain in the affected area Fever
Let us now understand the main cause of this infection.
What Causes Staph Infections?
As already discussed, staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. Many people carry these bacteria without even realizing it. If you have developed a staph infection, there is a good chance that you have been carrying these microbes around for quite some time. These bacteria can easily spread from person to person and may also live long enough on inanimate utensils like towels or pillowcases to infect the next person who touches them. Staphylococcus bacteria are known to be able to survive extreme temperatures and high levels of salt as well as stomach acid. If you have been diagnosed with a staph infection, your doctor may either put you on appropriate antibiotics or discuss other treatment options like wound drainage or removal of infected devices. Treatment often depends on the type of infection you are battling. Listed below are some all-natural remedies that can assist ongoing medication in managing staph infections.
11 Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of A Staph Infection
1. Essential Oils
a. Tea Tree Oil
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of tea tree oil can help treat skin infections triggered by Staphylococcus bacteria. It works best as adjuvant therapy to existing treatments (3).
2-3 drops of tea tree oil 2 teaspoons of coconut oil (or any carrier oil)
You may do this once daily.
b. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil exhibits bactericidal activity on some strains of Staphylococcus bacteria and may be used to treat wound-associated skin infections (4).
2-3 drops of oregano oil 2 teaspoons of coconut oil (or any carrier oil)
You may do this once daily.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
The antimicrobial properties of apple cider vinegar can help eliminate microbes like staphylococcus and can thus help in the treatment of infections triggered by them (5).
1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar 1 cup of water
You can do this once daily. Avoid using this in case of toxic syndrome. Consult your doctor before using it.
3. Basil Oil
Basil oil shows a powerful inhibitory effect against microbes like Staphylococcus and may be a great option to treat staph infections (6).
2-3 drops of basil oil 2 teaspoons of any carrier oil
You may do this once daily.
4. Vitamins
Deficiency of vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage (7). Vitamin C has an inhibitory effect on the bacteria (8). Hence, increasing the intake of foods rich in these vitamins like dairy products, citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, and egg yolks can help in battling staph infections. Talk to your doctor if you want to take additional supplements for these vitamins.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera possesses antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus bacteria (9). These activities may be used to treat staph infections. 1 teaspoon of freshly extracted aloe vera gel You may do this once daily for best results.
6. Probiotics
Probiotic lactobacilli exhibit immunoregulatory activities that can help in eliminating staphylococcus infections from within (10). Probiotic supplement Take any probiotic supplement daily. Make sure you consult a doctor before taking any additional supplements. You may take this once daily or as advised by your doctor.
7. CBD Oil
CBD oil exhibits antibacterial activities against many Staphylococcus bacterial strains and can thus be used in the treatment of staph infections (11). A few drops of CBD oil You may do this once daily or as directed by your physician.
8. Garlic
Garlic extracts enhance the antimicrobial activity of antibiotics used on methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Hence, garlic can work well as adjuvant therapy in treating staph infections (12). 2-3 garlic cloves You can do this once daily.
9. Goldenseal
Goldenseal exhibits antimicrobial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and may thus be able to treat staph infections (13).
1 teaspoon of goldenseal tea 1 cup of hot water
You may take this concoction 1-2 times daily.
10. Ginger
Ginger exhibits antibacterial properties that may be used against bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus bacteria (14).
1 inch of sliced ginger 1 cup of water
You may drink this 1-2 times daily.
11. Cranberry Juice
The antibacterial potential of cranberry juice can work wonders against staphylococcus infections (15). 1 ½ cups of cranberry juice Consume cranberry juice. You may drink this juice once daily. In addition to the above remedies, here are some tips that can help prevent the recurrence of staph infections.
How To Prevent A Staph Infection
Wash your hands with soap and water at regular intervals, especially after using the washroom and before eating. Keep the open wounds and cuts covered with bandages until they heal completely. Change your tampon every 4-8 hours to avoid staph infections like toxic shock syndrome. Do not share personal items like razors, towels, sheets, and clothing with others. Wash possibly infected clothing and bedding in hot water. Follow the necessary safety precautions while handling food. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible.
The remedies discussed above can work wonderfully in battling staphylococcus infections. However, you must avail medical intervention for such infections and use the home remedies only to assist ongoing medical treatments. Hope you found this post helpful. Do you have any more queries related to staph infections? Get in touch with us through the comments section below. Is a staph infection itchy? Yes. A staph infection often leads to sores that are itchy, but not usually painful. Can you squeeze staph infection? No, it is not advisable to pop, pick or squeeze pus-filled sores caused due to a staph infection. Doing so may cause further infections, delay healing or spread the pathogens around. What ointment is good for staph? Antibacterial ointments such as mupirocin (available as Bactroban) may help treat a staph infection. If there’s no improvement, it’s recommended that you consult a doctor. Is rubbing alcohol good for staph infections? No. Rubbing alcohol shows antimicrobial properties and may be helpful as a disinfectant against staph (16). There is, however, some contradictory evidence to suggest that it may not be as effective in reducing the viability of the bacteria (17). In addition, there is no evidence to suggest that rubbing alcohol can be used as a treatment for staph infections.
