Protecting Yourself and Your Pet from Staph Bacteria

Staphylococcus Aureus is a bacteria that can be contracted by people and their pets. The bacteria can be serious depending on the level of infection. With some knowledge about the bacteria people can keep themselves and their pets from becoming infected by it.

What Causes Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus Aureus is also known as staph or S. Aureus. Staph is a bacteria that causes disease in humans. It causes skin and soft tissue infections such as boils, furuncles, cellulitis, and rashes. Staph can cause serious internal infections such as pneumonia, infection of the lungs and bacteremia, a bloodstream infection.

People can carry the bacteria on them without them getting infected by it. The bacteria can be found in the nose, it grows on wounds, and it forms on other parts of the body.

How People Get Staph
People are at risk of catching staph from healthcare facilities. When healthcare providers fail to keep their facilities and examining tools clean and sterile, patients can contract the bacteria germ during medical examination surgery, and or hospital stay. Staph has also been known to have been contracted from other public facilities such as health clubs, spas, and salons, school gyms, and public pools. The contraction of staph from these places is primarily caused from the failure to clean equipment, tubs, and pools on a regular basis. Individuals can contract the bacteria from hand shaking. The bacteria can also be contracted from the home bathroom if the bathroom is not properly cleaned on a regular basis. People can get it from food such as when handling raw meat and eggs and not washing hands afterwards.

Pets And Staph
Just like people the family pets, such as dogs and cats can contract the staph bacteria. They can contract it the same way humans can. As with humans the bacteria is carried on their skin and their noises. Pets can spread staph to each other and to their owners through physical contact and shared objects.

The Seriousness Of Contracting Staph
For most people contracting the staph bacteria is not a problem. The bacteria can be carried on the skin in the nose. If a person has a strong immune system he or she will not be infected by the bacteria. If one gets a scratch or some other type of minor wound it would not get infected by the bacteria. When a person or pet gets infected, the infection can be as minor as a boil and can become as serious as the eating away of the flesh and even death.

Protection Against Staph
Personal Hygiene
Always clean and cover cuts, abrasions and wounds immediately after getting them. This prevents the staph bacteria from getting beneath the skin and into the bloodstream. Do not use the showers in gyms and health clubs. If you have any cuts, abrasions, wounds on your legs and feet allow them to heal completely before getting a pedicure. When bathing use an anti-bacteria bath soap. Do not share personal items, such as nail clippers towels, clothing, and shaving razors with other people. Always wash your hands with an anti-bacteria soap after using the bathroom and before eating. Always wash your hands after handling eggs and raw meat. Avoid picking your nose.

Household Cleaning
The bathroom is the main place where the staph bacteria dwells. Be sure to clean your bathroom frequently. When cleaning the toilet, sink, shower and bathtub use an anti-bacteria disinfectant cleaner. Cleaners such as bleach and ammonia are good for killing bacteria too. When doing laundry add a small amount of Pine Sol. Pine Sol is a gentle disinfectant that can be included in laundry.

Pet Protection
An owner can protect his or her pet from staph. Spray the family pets with a sanitizing spray made for animals. Such a spray can kill the staph bacteria on the animals. Periodically take your pet to a groomer to have it cleaned.

Avoid Catching Staph From Your Pet
Always wash your hands after touching your pet. Do not rub your face on your pet, kiss your pet, nor allow your pet to lick your face. Do not allow your pet to sleep in the bed with you, nor bath with you. Do not allow your pet to use the toilet. (Believe it or not, some people actually allow this.) Do not wash your pet in the bath tub, bathroom sink, nor kitchen sink. Do not share personal items such as towels, dishes, and food with your pet. Restricted communal contact with your pet can keep you from catching staph.

Staph is a common bacteria that cannot easily be avoided by people and pet owner. However, with some precautions they can protect themselves from contracting a serious infection. If a person or pet contracts staph, contacting a doctor or vet is highly advised.