Seriously, I have Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria that causes a staph infection) growing in my nasal passages. Am I worried? No. Why not? Because here's the thing: it's normal.
Now, I know there are a ton of people that, after reading that sentence, would jump up out of their seats and shout (at their computers, mind you): what? Are you crazy?!?!?! Why, yes, I am. Thanks for asking. But being crazy has nothing to do with my lack of worry over bacteria growing in my nose.
I am taking microbiology this semester. Not exactly by choice (I needed a biology lab, and this was the only one I could fit into my schedule), but I'm taking it all the same. This week in lab, we did throat cultures. Basically, my lab partner stuck a swab down my throat, and collected something. I then put it on a plate and came back to lab today to find growth on it. I similarly stuck a swab up my nose (yes, it was uncomfortable), and swabbed that on another plate to determine if I had any staph growing in my nose. Turns out I have S. aureus growing up there. I also have some nasty white and gray colonies growing in my throat, but we didn't have to identify those.
Again, you're wondering, why aren't I worried? Because S. aureus, while a pathogen, is not always a pathogen. It's part of a group of opportunistic pathogens, meaning that it won't cause any problems unless my immune system can't keep it in check. This particular strain of staph can be dangerous, but it is normally found in 25-30% of the population.
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes 80% of the cases of pneumonia (who would've thought?), and causes the middle ear infections little kids tend to get. It, also, is present in the throats of between 5 and 50% of the population (depending on where you live).
The fact of the matter is people should not be overly worried about bacteria. You have some nice (perhaps even nasty) stuff growing all over your skin that won't come off until you scrub your hands with soap and water for like 2 minutes. But it won't do anything to you as long as you don't get a cut.
You have E. coli growing in your gut. It's part of your NECESSARY flora, as the bacteria in our cut provides us with vitamins we need to survive. But if E.coli gets into your urinary tract, you end up with an infection there (which is why, ladies, they tell you to wipe back, not forward :) ) Normal urine, though, can contain up to 10,000 bacteria per mL of urine. Just think about that for a second.
So, the take home message of this particular blog is to not freak out about bacteria. You have more bacteria in your body than you do your own cells. Without these bacteria, you would not survive. It is only when your immune system is compromised (too much stress, perhaps?) that these bacteria can make you sick. Just practice good hygiene habits (washing your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom, sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands, take a shower more than once a week, etc), and you should be a healthy person.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
....and I could die from it!
mvenus929 has written a well thought out case against the danger of staph bacteria, but lets look at some facts:
MRSA Staph infections kill over 18,000 Americans per year.
MRSA Staph is becoming resistant to more and more antibiotics; it is EVOLVING and ADAPTING to treatments.
You should say what you just said to the families and friends of those 18,000 people who die every year from this bacteria -- they will probably be deeply insulted. Staph bacteria is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with and not ignored! People need to be aware of how to avoid it, and how to stop spreading it around!!
mvenus929, have you ever had a staph infection?
Have you ever needed surgery to remove an abcess from your body the size of a grapefruit?
I have!
I have had 5 staph infections since November, but , ironically, I have an excellent immune system and have not been sick with the cold or the flu for years. I have been getting infections because I was bussing tables at a restaurant that wasn't properly disinfecting the place b/c it stays open 24 hours a day, and now theres a dispute between the Occupational Health Board and this particular establishment. I have since quit this job and hopefully wont be having this problem anymore. The point is, people shouldn't just shrug off the very real danger of staph infection, they should know how to avoid it.
This is how:
avoid going to gyms. If you must go to a public gym, bring a towel to protect your skin from direct contact with the exercise equipment and also something to clean the equipment before you use it.
avoid sitting on a toilet in public restrooms without a seat cover. You never know what you put your butt on.
keep all wounds covered and disinfected. If you work somewhere like a restaurant, this is VERY important.
take a shower after having sex with somebody!!!!!!!!!! <--- i learned this the hard way!!!!!
avoid direct contact with people who don't practice good hygeine!
use hand sanitizer more often. If everyone did, then staph wouldnt be as big of a problem as it is now, and less people will die.
stress is a huge factor, too.. and stress in a contaminated workplace is HUGE b/c you are combining the factors; avoid BOTH!
avoid touching your nose and then other things. Think of the lives you could save.
and remember, once you get it, your odds are really good you will get it again, so you must be careful , and wary...
Thank you.
thanks for the heads up! i feel like scrubbing my hands for the two minutes that you noted in oyur article, but i guess i'll refrain and stop worrying about bacteria so much. i'm stressed enough as it is.
so true :)
+mspin
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/weezyf
Like a month ago my school was freaking out about a staph infection. Sending letters home about it, I don't know, I think they were a little bit too worried.
-Amanda-
Check out my blog
There's a big difference between a staph infection and having staph bacteria.
I think Mvenus was alluding to the fact that the bacteria isn't harmful unless it's infected or something (correct me if I'm wrong, C)
----
You are the Voice of the Childwen of the Revowution! [Toulouse, Moulin Rouge]
The bacteria isn't harmful unless your immune system can't hold it in check. Bacteria on your skin is fine while it's on your skin, but if it gets into your blood, it can cause problems. Bacteria in your intestines is fine as long as it stays in your intestines and doesn't move to your urinary tract.
Being around someone with a staph infection doesn't automatically mean you'll get it. You could already have that bacteria in your nose/throat (25-30% of the population does), and be living perfectly ok with it. But once your immune system is compromised, you get infected.
The point was mostly that if you keep good hygienic practices, you probably won't get sick, so you shouldn't worry about making sure you remove every trace of bacteria on your skin, or freak out about someone coughing next to you. Chances are, you're not going to get sick.
~C
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