Boils & Staph Infections

Boils are a medical condition of the skin in which hair follicles or sweat pores become clogged, with infection as a result. Staph infection is, like boils, a medical condition of the skin in which the skin becomes afflicted by bacteria, producing an infection. While boils are not considered a medical emergency, staph infections can be highly dangerous if not treated accordingly.

Boils

• When a boil develops in the skin and infection occurs, white blood cells are sent from the body to the area of infection to fight it. When the white blood cells and bacteria mix, it becomes what is known as pus. This material is what the abscess is composed of. When the boil is filled with pus, it usually hardens to a "head," the white spot in the middle of the boil. There are several classifications of boils. First, there is cystic acne, which is very common, especially among teenagers. Acne occurs when oil ducts in the skin become infected, forming boils which are much deeper than superficial inflammation. The second type of boil is known as a carbuncle. This occurs when the staph bacteria infect the skin through breaks and cuts. Hidradenitis suppurativa is when multiple sweat glands become infected, leading to groupings of boils. Pilonidal boils occur when the hair follicles of the hair in the buttocks area become infected, inflaming the skin.

Staph Infection

• Staphylococcus aureus is the bacteria commonly known as "staph." Staph can invade wounds in the skin and other open areas such as hair follicles, causing infection. The danger of staph is that it can easily spread throughout the body as well as attacking the bloodstream. Toxins can be released by the staph, especially when it is in the bloodstream. These toxins can cause toxic shock and septic shock syndrome, which can be extremely dangerous and lead to death. MRSA is another strand of staph infection. This kind of staph does not respond positively to common antibiotics. MRSA is prevalent in environments such as hospitals and clinics, where illnesses and disease abound.

Staph Infections and Boils

• Staph infections start out as boils in the skin. The boil created from a staph infection will be colored red, swollen, inflamed and sensitive to the touch. These boils will at times exude fluid or pus. It can also appear flaky or crusted. Specifically, the boils caused by staph infection are in three distinct classifications: furuncles, carbuncles and impetigo. Furuncles are usually the size of a pea and are formed when staph goes into the tissue through hair follicles. They appear inflamed, red and are filled with pus. Carbuncles are a cluster of skin boils that consist of pus and bacteria. Carbuncles can be large and spread to other parts of the body. They are highly contagious. Impetigo can be observed as groups of blisters which crust over and harden.

Staph and Boil Treatment

• As a first line of defense, staph infection is treated by antibiotics. Sometimes though, regular antibiotics are not strong enough to eliminate the infection. Stronger antibiotics, known as glycopeptides, are used to combat staph infection. This type of antibiotic contains vancomycin and teicoplanin antibiotics. Also, glycopeptides must be given through an IV. When this medication is administered it has to be monitored carefully because of its strength. Regular boils will usually drain on their own without medical care.

Conclusion

• If a boil persists, becomes very painful or multiplies, it is very important to seek expert medical care, as you can be infected with staph. The best way to deal with staph is to take preventive measures, such as washing and disinfecting the skin on a regular basis. Also, when the skin gets cut or injured, it is important to disinfect immediately.