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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffMany people carry staph bacteria and never develop staph infections. If you have a staph infection, there's a good chance that it stemmed from bacteria you've been carrying around for some time.
These bacteria also can be transmitted from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on inanimate objects like pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.
Staph bacteria are able to survive:
- Drying
- Extremes of temperature
- High levels of salt
Even cooking won't kill the toxins produced by staph bacteria, which is why they can cause food-borne illness.
- Moreillon P, et al. Staphylococcus aureus (including staphylococcal toxic shock). In. Mandell GL, et al. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130084916-6/826085114/1259/1580.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50195-1_6326. Accessed April 2, 2009.
- Endocarditis. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/endo/endo_all.html. Accessed April 6, 2009.
- Staphylococcus aureus: Pathogenicity. In: Cohen J, et al. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130084916-6/826085114/1209/650.html. Accessed April 6, 2009.
- Archer GL. Staphylococcal infections. In: Goldman L. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130655031-2/826443940/1492/1112.html#4-u1. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Baddour LM. Cellulitis and erysipelas. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Staphylococcal food poisoning. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/staphylococcus_food_g.htm. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Fowler VC, et al. Complications of staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Kirkland EB, et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and athletes. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2008;59:494.
- Young LS. Sepsis and septic shock. Merck Manual Home Edition. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch191/ch191c.html. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Staphylococcus aureus (SA): Antibiotic resistance (general). National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih1/diseases/activities/activity5_vrsa-database.htm. Accessed April 9, 2009.
- Community-associated MRSA information for the public. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nciod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
