Bacteria can be found on the surface of our skin. However, it can enter your body when you have an open wound, abrasion or cracks from dry skin. Skin breakage caused by itching and scratching can also allow bacteria to make an entry into your body.
The cause of skin infections can be blamed on many different bacteria. These commonly include Acinetobacter, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, and the Staphylococcus species. Conditions such as boils, impetigo, folliculitis, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, Methicillin resistant staph. aureus, and toxic shock syndrome are all caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Cellulitis, necrotising fasciitis, erysipelas, impetigo, and scarlet fever are all caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. Gonorrhoea, meningococcal disease, tuberculosis, leprosy, chancroid, athlete's foot, anthrax, syphilis, lyme disease, cat schratch fever, and scalp folliculitis are essentially bacterial skin infections.
Certain diseases increase your susceptibility to bacterial skin infections. These include diabetes, AIDS or if you suffer from a lowered immune system.
Staph skin infections can be contagious; that is easily passed from one individual to another. Hence, it is important that you do not share personal care items, such as towels, combs or even bed linens with someone who suffers from a bacterial skin infection. You should also avoid contact with anything that this person touches.
To prevent yourself from developing a bacterial skin infection, good personal hygiene habits need to be practised. Hand washing is especially important as we touch many surfaces with our hands and then touch our own skin. Casual contact cannot spread Staph infections, but close contact can. Drinking fountains, desks, and pencils are casual contact; whereas towels, bed linens, hats, and other articles of clothing are close contacts.
It is easy to get a bacterial skin infection as you live in communities and are in close contact with several people. Be aware that places like schools, community organizations like hospitals, college dormitories, nursing homes, sports teams and childcare centers are areas where it is easy to pick up an infection. Hence, it is important that you practice good hygiene and avoid those who are ill.
Seek treatment quickly if you have got a skin infection. Contact a doctor immediately when you observe symptoms of a skin infection, such as itchy rashes, redness, warmth, tenderness, or raised bumps. You also need care and attention if it develops into fever and pain.
Published by Evelyn Lim on January 27, 2008 07:45 PM
