Staphylococcus Epidermis Cures

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a spherical bacterium. It exists as part of the natural human flora, but can also cause serious infections. These generally form around any foreign devices, such as prosthetic joints, placed in the body. Cures for Staphylococcus epidermidis infections involve the use of antibiotics taken either orally or intravenously.

Effects

• According to the University of Connecticut Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Staphylococcus epidermidis infections “are associated with intravascular devices (prosthetic heart valves, shunts, etc.) but also commonly occur in prosthetic joints.” Infections create a bacterial slime layer or biofilm around the intravascular device. Symptoms associated with infection may include vomiting, fatigue, headache, painful urination and fever.

Cure

• Because Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium, it must be treated with antibiotics. However, some difficulty may arise during treatment because Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium that exists naturally within the human body. It can thus develop resistances to certain antibiotics. According to the University of Connecticut Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Staphylococcus epidermidis “has developed resistance to many common antibiotics such as methicillin, novobiocin, clindamycin, and benzyl penicillin. As a result, vancomycin or rifampin is used to treat an infection.”

Administration

• There are multiple ways for these antibiotics to be administered. For example, if an infection requires hospitalization or occurs during a hospital visit, a doctor can provide vancomycin either orally or through an IV. According to Science Blog, dosages administered through an IV are given slowly, typically at around 500 mg every six hours. The antibiotics are then eliminated by the kidneys.

Therapy

• If an intravascular device, such as a shunt, becomes infected, it may need to be removed and replaced, and the patient may require antibiotic therapy. In a study performed in 1973 by the Department of Neurological Surgery and Division of Congenital Defects in Seattle, Washington, all 28 patients with Staphylococcus epidermidis infections “were cured by complete removal of all shunt elements with replacement in another anatomic site…combined with high dose, specific systemic antibiotic therapy."

Warning

• Staphylococcus infections can also occur on the outer layers of the skin, typically in large, open wounds. These types of infections are usually marked by inflammation and pus excretion. Speak with your doctor or a medical professional if you have an intravascular device or infected wound and develop symptoms like vomiting combined with fever, headaches, or fatigue.