Staphylococcus aureus in infants: causes, symptoms and treatment

How can a baby become infected?

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, most cases of staphylococcal infection occur within the walls of the maternity hospital.

The bacterium is very tenacious, and it is extremely difficult to fight it, despite the maximum range of measures carried out in maternity hospitals (sterilization of diapers, bed linen and other household items used in the ward).

It is precisely because of the frequent infection with Staphylococcus aureus that in some institutions women in labor are prohibited from using their own clothing, with the exception of underwear, and there are also restrictions on washing wardrobe items.

A newborn can become a carrier of staphylococcus after passing through the mother's birth canal, so all women at 36-38 weeks are recommended to undergo complete vaginal sanitation.

At home, a baby can “catch” an infection from one of the family members through toys, common objects, or tactile contact (for example, by kissing).

If the child is breastfed, the mother should carefully monitor her health and hygiene, since Staphylococcus aureus can penetrate into mother's milk, actively multiplying in the nutrient medium.

Routes of infection for infants

Infection occurs in three main ways:

contact between sick mother and child;
breast-feeding;
directly during childbirth.

There is also a high probability of a child becoming infected if personal hygiene rules are not followed.

Since a child constantly puts everything around him into his mouth, he is susceptible to infection. Therefore, parents should monitor his hygiene.

Infection can occur from infected medical personnel. This occurs if the health worker was not diagnosed with a disease in a timely manner or if he did not sufficiently carry out hygiene measures before the procedures. This is how staphylococcus gets to the newborn from the environment.

Airborne infection is also possible. It provokes the following pathological conditions:

rhinitis;
sore throat;
pharyngitis.

Infection is possible due to non-compliance with hygiene standards when treating the umbilical wound.

It should also be taken into account that staphylococcus is present in some quantity in the body of every person, including infants. It usually occurs when the immune system is weakened.

The development of infection can be triggered by:

pathological pregnancy, childbirth;
malnutrition of the baby;
prematurity.

The infection develops in children who often suffer from acute respiratory viral infections and suffer from dysbacteriosis. In such children, the body's protective functions are significantly weakened, so they are extremely susceptible to infection by any pathogenic bacteria.

Who's at risk

Generally speaking, this includes all babies under the age of one year, since their immune system is just being formed and cannot cope with pathogens on its own.

The most vulnerable groups of children, whose risk of infection increases by 50-70 percent compared to their peers, include:

born prematurely;
having a critical body weight at birth;
those who underwent surgery in the first year of life;
having congenital defects and developmental pathologies;
those who are bottle-fed;
often sick;
recently vaccinated;
not receiving sufficient hygienic care.

The main cause of staphylococcal infection is decreased immunity.

If the child is strong, healthy, and his immune system works well, then the body will cope with the bacteria on its own, and more precisely, it will not allow opportunistic organisms to grow, multiply and leave their waste products.

Why is Staphylococcus aureus dangerous for babies?

Staphylococcus in itself does not pose a threat to the child, since it is part of his natural microflora. But this only applies to healthy children with a good defense system.

If the baby’s health is undermined (for example, by a cold), then favorable conditions are created in the body for the growth of a pathogenic mass of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus. This type of microorganism can provoke the appearance of any diseases, as it is localized on the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, intestines, stomach, etc.

If the infection is not treated completely, serious complications may occur, for example:

chronic conjunctivitis;
pneumonia;
inflammation of the meninges (meningitis);
blood poisoning as a result of Staphylococcus aureus entering it (sepsis);
otitis;
sinusitis;
damage to internal organs.

Sepsis and meningitis are extremely serious diseases for infants, which can result in the death of the child. For this reason, you should not self-medicate - you should immediately contact your pediatrician if any symptoms indicating the presence of staphylococcus appear.

Diagnosis and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus

It’s worth mentioning right away that the idea of completely ridding a young growing body of staphylococcus is a utopia.

Staphylococcus aureus lives everywhere. He tolerates well:

freezing,
drying,
evaporation,
ultraviolet irradiation,
Most antiseptics, including everyone’s favorite chlorine-containing Domestos and other pesticides, advertising of which promises 100% destruction of insidious bacteria, but in fact does not go further than increasing the allergenicity of children and adults.

So, if for children of the first three years of life staphylococcal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and skin are more typical, then in older children the bacteria migrate to the nose, paranasal sinuses and tonsils, providing their owner with uninterrupted sinusitis, purulent snot and tonsillitis for the coming years, gradually turning into chronic tonsillitis.

Therapy for infectious gastrointestinal lesions in children comes down to three main areas:

fight against infection,
correction of water-electrolyte imbalances,
organization of therapeutic nutrition.

Forms of the disease and accompanying symptoms

Staphylococcus aureus on the skin

If this representative of the staphylococcus family infects the skin of infants, characteristic symptoms appear:

redness and peeling of the skin;
rashes that have a shiny tint;
blisters and pustules;
boils;
acne;
“scalded skin syndrome” (severe redness and swelling of individual areas of the skin with blisters filled with fluid or pus).

Similar phenomena occur as a result of the release of the toxic substance exfoliatin into the skin. In this case, it is very difficult to suspect staphylococcus, since outwardly it resembles the symptoms of urticaria, diathesis and dermatitis, which are often diagnosed in infants. It is impossible to determine it yourself, without conducting the necessary research.

If the baby becomes capricious and signs of an allergic reaction appear on the body, do not rush and give him antihistamines. It would be wiser to go to a children's clinic and get the necessary tests.

Infection on the mucous membranes

In such a situation, a baby develops inflammatory diseases of the eyes (conjunctivitis), nasopharynx and throat, which are accompanied by a high temperature and are quite acute, causing discomfort and pain.

Doctor's advice

Today, bacteriophages are the most optimal means of therapy, but have one drawback - price. The solution is used depending on the affected area - internally, externally in the form of lotions, rinsed the mouth with it and made enemas. The main advantage is that bacteriphages destroy staphylococcus, die and leave the body without being involved in other processes.

Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist

The signs are identical to ARVI and acute respiratory infections:

runny nose, nasal congestion;
cough, sneezing;
fever;
chills;
irritability and tearfulness.

Staphylococcus in the intestines

Enterocolitis is a common problem in infants infected with staphylococcus. The disease is accompanied by symptoms of intestinal poisoning, intoxication and eating disorders.

When staphylococcus occurs in the intestines, the following symptoms appear:

bloating;
frequent attacks of intestinal colic;
vomiting (not to be confused with regurgitation);
diarrhea (the stool is watery, bright yellow with greens);
pain in the abdominal area;
elevated temperature (up to 38.3-38.5 degrees).

Treatment of enterocolitis does not always require the use of antibiotics - in most cases, symptomatic treatment and taking bifid medications are sufficient.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is extremely difficult to recognize an infection, since the clinical picture of the disease is absolutely identical to respiratory (cold) diseases and intestinal poisoning. It is possible to make a correct diagnosis and begin the necessary treatment in a timely manner only after a complete examination of the child and collection of a medical history.

Analysis of stool for dysbacteriosis is not very informative in infants in the first months of life. The intestinal microflora is just being formed; everything that gets into the baby’s mouth from a pacifier, toy, hands, mother’s clothes and others passes through the intestines in transit without staying there. The composition of the microflora can change every few days.

Victoria Druzhikina

Neurologist, Therapist

To diagnose staphylococcal infection in infants, the following methods are used:

Blood test for antibodies . When pathogenic microorganisms begin to grow and release toxic substances, the body reacts by producing antibodies that can fight the foreign agents. Clinical examination of blood serum allows the detection of these antibodies and the presence of a bacterial infection.
Bacterial culture . The analysis proceeds as follows: a scraping (smear) of the contents is taken from the baby’s mucous membranes and sent to the laboratory to determine the pathogenic microflora. The same method is used to determine the resistance of staphylococcus to various groups of antibiotics. In addition to scraping from the mucous membranes, the baby's feces are sown on nutrient media to detect the growth of staphylococcus and determine its quantity.
PCR . It is used as a clarifying component of diagnosis if previous methods did not provide a complete picture of the child’s condition. The accuracy of PCR is 98 percent and virtually eliminates the possibility of error.

If the baby is breastfed, the mother's milk must be tested for the presence of this type of bacteria. If they are detected, lactation will have to be temporarily stopped, and the mother will have to undergo a course of treatment using antibiotics.

Treatment

If staphylococcus is detected in the stool of an infant, specific treatment is usually not prescribed. This applies to those cases when the child is active, gains weight well and eats with appetite. If the baby often cries and refuses to eat, then the pediatrician may prescribe a course of treatment to eliminate the symptoms of intoxication and restore beneficial microflora.

Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in children under one year of age can take place in an infectious diseases hospital (if there are complications in the form of severe intoxication or infection of internal organs) or at home if the infection is mild.

The following groups of drugs are usually used:

Antibiotics . The choice of drug depends on the age of the child, as well as the sensitivity of the strain of staphylococcal bacteria to a specific type of drug (determined using a laboratory test). Antibiotics must be taken for any form of staphylococcus that affects the skin or mucous membranes.
Immune stimulants (immunomodulators) . Can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor, despite the fact that the drugs of this pharmacological group are sold without a special prescription.
Bacteriophages . Expensive drugs used to destroy staphylococcus in cases where therapy with standard antibiotics is ineffective. Most pediatricians prefer to immediately prescribe bacteriophages to minimize the toxic effect on the child’s liver.
Bifid drugs (prebiotics) . Prescribed simultaneously with antibiotics to prevent dysbiosis and restore the normal balance of intestinal microflora.

The condition in which the child is a carrier of Staphylococcus aureus should not be confused with a bacterial infection. Staphylococcus can peacefully coexist with other types of bacteria that populate the human intestine throughout its life, without manifesting itself in any way. An infection is said to occur when pathogenic organisms begin to actively grow and release toxins, infecting organs and poisoning the body.

Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in infants is a very complex topic and has not yet been fully studied. World-famous pediatricians still cannot come to a unanimous opinion on whether this infection should be treated. If you detect signs of staphylococcus infection, it is important to consult a doctor to avoid dangerous complications and negative consequences for the baby’s health.

For information on the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in children, see the video “Doctor Komarovsky’s School”:

This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.

Bibliography

1. https://med.wikireading.ru/3098 https://vmede.org/sait/?page=35&id=Infekcionnie_bolezni_ped_y4aikin_2013&menu=Infekcionnie_bolezni_ped_y4aikin_2013
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Staphylococcus aureus was found in the baby's stool. what to do?

After birth, a child encounters many bacteria and microorganisms. Some of them are useful, others are harmless, and some are quite dangerous for the baby’s health. One of these dangerous bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

What is Staphylococcus aureus?

Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) is one of the varieties of bacteria from the staphylococcal family that can cause various diseases.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most harmful and resistant bacterium of all staphylococci.

Almost all diseases associated with staphylococcal infection are caused by this bacterium, or rather by the toxic enzyme that it produces.

It is called golden because when observed under a microscope, it is clear that the colonies of these bacteria are yellow in color. This bacterium is very common. It is found in the body and on the skin of almost every person.

So it’s quite possible to find Staphylococcus aureus in a baby’s stool. There are standards for acceptable levels of the presence of bacteria in the intestines. If this norm is not exceeded, then there is no reason to worry.

epidermal staphylococcus is very common , unlike the first, it is part of the normal microflora of the skin and poses a danger only to weakened and exhausted people, in some cases during pregnancy.

Causes of the disease

Staphylococcal infection in an infant can cause inflammatory diseases of the skin (pimples, boils), purulent-inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and other inflammatory diseases.

The bacterium itself is not dangerous. Usually the general and local immunity of a healthy person copes with it quite effectively.

But the smaller the baby, the weaker his body and lower his immunity.

The newborn's life support systems do not function fully, and the beneficial intestinal microflora has not been established. Therefore, the risk of developing streptococcal infection in an infant is quite high.

Staphylococcus can be transmitted to a newborn from the mother. Transmission can also occur from other people who are carriers of staphylococcus. Often a newborn becomes infected in the hospital.

Thus, the causes of the development of the disease can be :

Failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards in the maternity hospital and illness of its employees;
Violation of personal hygiene by the baby's mother;
Contact of the baby with relatives and friends sick with staphylococcal infection;
Decreased infant immunity;
Failure to follow the rules for caring for a newborn.

Infection of a newborn with the so-called nosocomial staphylococcal infection is especially dangerous. This bacterial infection is very resistant to any influence and is difficult to treat.

There are no bacteria or microorganisms in the newborn’s body immediately after birth. It is practically sterile and therefore the spread of infection does not cause any obstacles and can be quite rapid. This threatens serious complications for the baby's health.

Acceptable norms in feces

Doctors still do not have a consensus on how many of these microorganisms are acceptable in stool. According to some data, it is considered normal if this microorganism was detected in an amount of 10 CFU per 1 gram of feces.

Other researchers believe that even a bacteria content of 103 CFU per 1 gram of feces does not pose a danger.

How is it transmitted?

Staphylococcus is transmitted through close contact with a carrier of the infection , through common objects, failure to comply with hygiene standards, and through consumption of contaminated food.

Sometimes a baby becomes infected with the mother's milk if she herself is sick or if the bacteria comes from the skin during feeding.

Once staphylococcus gets on the skin, it can enter the bloodstream through wounds. In the presence of favorable conditions, a staphylococcal infection develops, which causes inflammatory diseases of internal organs.

By airborne droplets, the bacterium is able to penetrate the respiratory system.

All about the causes and consequences of jaundice in newborns.

We also suggest reading about the symptoms and treatment of rotavirus intestinal infection in children.

What diseases does it cause?

Staphylococcus is considered an opportunistic microbe. This means that it is dangerous only under certain conditions. Most often this is a decrease in immunity.

Infants have not yet fully formed immune systems (local and general), so they get sick more often.

Staphylococcal infections can cause the following diseases:

Purulent-inflammatory skin diseases;
Staphylococcal sepsis;
Purulent sore throats;
Inflammatory intestinal diseases – gastroenterocolitis;
Purulent pneumonia;
Toxic damage to organs and systems;
CNS lesions, meningitis;
Other.

Main symptoms

Symptoms of diseases due to streptococcal infection depend on the location of the disease, the degree of its intensity, and the child’s immunity.

The most common symptoms that appear are::

Skin rash with pustules and inflammation;
The child’s high temperature does not go down well and rises again;
Weakness, lethargy;
Poor sleep and appetite;
Diarrhea;
Nausea or vomiting;
Purulent wounds due to skin disease;
A characteristic purulent plaque on the tonsils with tonsillitis;
Dry hoarse cough with laryngitis;
Difficulty breathing due to pneumonia.

If you suspect an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor. He will examine the baby and refer him for the necessary examination or hospitalization.

Diagnostic methods

To diagnose the disease, blood, urine, and stool tests are performed . A swab of the throat is taken if necessary. If streptococcal pneumonia is suspected, a sputum test is performed. Based on the test results, a conclusion is made about the presence of inflammation in a certain organ.

Bacterial analysis of collected biological fluids identifies the causative agent of the disease.

If a harmful microorganism is found and it is necessary to prescribe antibacterial therapy, then an analysis is carried out to determine the sensitivity of the bacteria to certain groups of antibiotics.

Why is he dangerous?

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous of all staphylococci.

The bacterium produces a very dangerous toxin.

In severe forms of the disease, the following complications are possible:

Sepsis (blood poisoning);
Toxic shock;
Toxic brain damage;
Exacerbation and complication of other chronic and congenital diseases;
Lethal outcome in acute intensive course of the disease.

Therefore, it is important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and undergo the necessary treatment.

When planning and especially during pregnancy, a woman must be tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Analysis for Ureaplasma Parvum is also included in the list of mandatory ones. Read more about the dangers of this infection during pregnancy by following our link.

Treatment options

Treatment of streptococcal infection is very difficult. This bacterium is resistant to most antibiotics and antiseptics .

It does not die when dried in the sun, in ethyl alcohol, in hydrogen peroxide, and can withstand temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, etc.

Proven effectiveness in destroying Staphylococcus aureus has been shown by such drugs as chlorophyllipt and brilliant green solution. Therefore, scratches and abrasions on a child should be treated with brilliant green. This will create a barrier to the infection entering the blood.

A tincture or oil solution of chlorophyllipt can successfully treat streptococcal infections in the throat and nasopharynx.

If Staphylococcus aureus is found in the feces of a baby, then treatment is most often not carried out . Treatment is prescribed if there are other symptoms of a possible disease.

Antibacterial therapy for streptococcal infections is selected in cases of development of inflammatory diseases.

First, a test is carried out to determine the sensitivity of the detected bacteria to various types of antibiotics, since many of them cannot cope with bacteria of this type.

In combination, they are also used in the treatment of infection.:

Preparations to improve intestinal microflora;
Vitamin complexes;
Immunomodulatory agents;
Traditional methods include decoctions of calendula, chamomile and other medicinal plants.

Even after suffering from a disease caused by a staphylococcal infection, the body cannot develop immunity to staphylococcal bacteria. The likelihood of re-infection with this infection is quite high.

Prevention

Due to the fact that Staphylococcus aureus is very tenacious, it is extremely difficult to get rid of it.

To prevent staphylococcal infection, it is useful to harden the baby, increasing his immunity, and, consequently, the body’s resistance to various kinds of diseases.

Feed only fresh foods. Follow proper nutrition standards.

You should also follow these recommendations:

Ventilate the room, walk in the fresh air, wash surfaces with soap and water;
Limiting the baby’s contact with people who may be carriers of the infection.

You should not unnecessarily visit public places where there is a possibility of infecting a child.

Thoroughly wash and treat the baby's household items.

Bottles, pacifiers, pacifiers, teethers, rattles and others.

Be sure to choose ones that will be easy to rinse and boil.

Mother's milk contains not only useful substances, but also substances that protect the baby from many diseases.

Therefore, breastfeeding, subject to all sanitary standards, is a good measure for the prevention of many diseases, including staphylococcal infections.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion – video

Famous pediatrician Komarovsky E.O. believes that the detection of staphylococcus in the stool of a baby is not a reason for urgently taking any medications . Its presence in the intestines does not indicate anything.

Treatment will only be needed if the baby has indigestion, lethargy, high fever and other signs of infection.

If, along with this, a huge amount of Staphylococcus aureus is found in the stool, then a staphylococcal infection can be diagnosed.

You can learn more about the position of E.O. Komarovsky from the video:

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