Staph infection and the mouth

[dougie_monty]

I am just now getting over a severe staph infection--symptoms include a reddened, swollen calf oozing water; nausea; dazed feeling; great loss of appetite. According to my doctor, the staphylococcus aureus bacteria regularly (and properly) inhabit the mouth, but do not belong anywhere else in or on the body. Did I hear right?

[Mangetout]

Originally Posted by dougie_monty

I am just now getting over a severe staph infection--symptoms include a reddened, swollen calf oozing water; nausea; dazed feeling; great loss of appetite. According to my doctor, the staphylococcus aureus bacteria regularly (and properly) inhabit the mouth, but do not belong anywhere else in or on the body. Did I hear right?

Staph is a normal member of the skin flora all over the skin and in the mouth and nasal passages - it's not usually a problem until it gets under the skin - a common cause of serious infections is when people instinctively apply their own saliva to a small wound.

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Everyone has staph epidermis colonizing their skins. About 20% of folks also have staph aureus, which often causes skin infections, colonizing their skin harmlessly. Over 30% of people in the US have nasal colonization with staph aureus.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16362880