staphylococcus in the eyes

Symptoms

Clinical symptoms of eye staphylococcus appear almost immediately after infection:

• swelling of the eyelids and enlargement of the eyeball in size;
• redness of the conjunctiva, sclera with noticeable vessels;
• itching, burning and pain;
• suppuration as a characteristic symptom of staphylococcal infection, pus is actively secreted during sleep, eyelashes can stick together;
• Photophobia – bright light causes a reflexive closure of the eyelids due to pain and pain in the eyes.

Usually staphylococcus affects one eye, but the infection quickly spreads to the second, causing bilateral inflammation. Staphylococcal infection is characterized by a general deterioration of the condition: weakness, fever, headache. In a child, symptoms manifest themselves in the fact that he becomes whiny, capricious, and may refuse to eat.

Staphylococcus and staphylococcal infection in children are fundamentally different things!

The presence of staphylococcus in a child’s body is far from a reason to panic and run around pharmacies in search of the most expensive antibiotics. As we have already mentioned, more than 80% of the population carries staphylococcus on themselves or in themselves, and most of them never “bother” to get a staphylococcal infection in their lives.

The real development of staphylococcal infection in children is indicated not by a positive test for staphylococcus, but by the resulting symptoms of staphylococcal infectious disease :

• heat;
• the appearance of purulent mucus;
• redness;
• painful sensation (as a rule, it appears exactly in the place where the inflammatory process occurs).

A typical manifestation of a staphylococcal infection is purulent inflammation, which can develop anywhere in a child’s body (although it most often occurs in the nasopharynx). And if staphylococcus is detected during the analysis, but no purulent processes are observed in the child’s body, then there can be no talk of any staphylococcal infection.

This situation only means that your baby and staphylococcus coexist peacefully with each other, and the child’s immune system successfully controls this “settlement” of microbes in his body.

Causes and mechanism of infection

Staphylococcus epidermidis (Staphylococcus aureus) is an opportunistic bacterium that is found everywhere in the environment, including on human skin and mucous membranes.

Due to its high pathogenicity and widespread distribution, this staphylococcus is one of the most common causative agents of infectious diseases, especially in young children. Staphylococcus aureus in the eyes occurs when microorganisms enter the organs of vision from the source of infection.

The high pathogenicity of the microbe is associated with the following factors:

• High stability and adaptability . Most antiseptics and environmental factors cannot completely suppress staphylococcus. Microorganisms can withstand direct sunlight, drying, freezing, boiling for 10 minutes, exposure to ethyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.
• Production of penicillase and lidase enzymes . With their help, staphylococci penetrate human skin and destroy antibiotics. Microbes quickly develop resistance to them. Today, pathogenic strains are almost completely resistant to penicillin antibiotics.
• Endotoxin production . When microbes die, toxic substances enter the human blood, destroying cells, causing damage to blood vessels and connective tissue.

The immune system of a healthy person copes with a small number of microorganisms on its own. Beneficial bacteria prevent them from multiplying and stop the growth of bacterial flora.

For the development of an infectious disease in the eyes, 3 factors are necessary:

• Decreased immunity . Because of this, bacteria begin to actively multiply on the mucous membrane of the eyes. Staphylococcus is often found in newborns, older people and those who suffer from endocrine diseases and take hormonal medications.
• Damage to the protective layer . Inflammation can develop after eye injury or surgery.
• Mass infection . Pathogenic microorganisms from the carrier, who may not himself suffer from infection, are transmitted by airborne droplets to others (by sneezing, coughing, through household items, if personal hygiene rules are not followed).

The most dangerous staphylococci for children: golden and company

So, in the company of those 14 types of staphylococci that are constantly present in most people (including children), the majority are relatively peaceful. And only 3 species have the potential to cause serious and dangerous diseases. This:

• Staphylococcus aureus;
• Staphylococcus epidermidis;
• saprophytic staphylococcus.

In children, the harmful activity of the first two microbes is most often observed, but the activity of saprophytic staphylococcus is a rare phenomenon. The habitat of saprophytic staphylococcus is the skin in the genital area and the mucous membrane of the urinary canal, so most often it causes inflammation of the bladder or kidneys.

Staphylococcus epidermidis lives exclusively on the skin, but - what a paradox! - and never causes any skin ulcers. Most often, a microbe from the surface of the skin seeps into the body (through wounds, scratches, as well as “riding” any medical equipment such as drainage tubes, etc.) and causes inflammatory processes in blood vessels, joints, can cause blood poisoning, etc.

But the most notorious among the trio is Staphylococcus aureus . This microbe is one of the most harmful and tenacious types among all other varieties of staphylococci that are potentially hazardous to health. During its life activity, this microbe creates a huge amount of poisons and toxins, and is capable of multiplying in almost any environment (even in a salt solution, in ethyl alcohol or in a solution of hydrogen peroxide). This microbe survives at temperatures of 150 ° C. In addition, Staphylococcus aureus quickly develops resistance to antibiotics and for effective treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection it is usually difficult to select a “killer” drug. Therefore, treatment of this type of infection in children often takes several months.

“Hospital” Staphylococcus aureus is considered the most harmful and persistent. Unlike “domestic” ones, microbes that have survived numerous sanitary treatments, quartz treatments and airings acquire literally “iron-concrete” resistance to most drugs.

Any doctor will confirm that becoming infected with Staphylococcus aureus in a hospital or outside its walls are two huge differences. The most terrible and long-lasting purulent infections in children are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which the baby “caught” in the hospital.

Staphylococcus aureus is capable of living and multiplying in any organ of a child’s body and causes about a hundred of the most dangerous diseases (most of these diseases are caused only by Staphylococcus aureus and no other microbe). Among the most terrible diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus are: osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone tissue), damage to the heart valves, staphylococcal sepsis, staphylococcal meningitis and others.

Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus produces strong poisons and toxins in the course of its life. One of these toxins sometimes affects newborn babies, causing inflammation on the skin in the form of numerous blisters (like burns). In the medical and parental community, this disease is more often referred to as “scalded baby disease.” And the culprit of this whole nightmare is Staphylococcus aureus!

Treatment

Treatment procedures for ophthalmic staphylococcus begin before an accurate diagnosis is established. Usually they start with the use of topical agents, and antibiotics are added if necessary.

Local treatments include:

• Eye wash . To remove pus and avoid the spread of infection, it is recommended to wash your eyes at least 4-6 times a day. Wash each eye separately using a cotton swab dipped in boiled water or a solution of antiseptics. You can use chamomile infusion, tea or saline solution.
• Ointments . Use Tetracycline or Levomycytin. They are placed behind the lower eyelid 3-5 times a day. The course is at least 5-7 days, even if the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.
• Drops . Albucid, Levomecitin are used. The funds are dripped 3-6 times a day, the course is 3-10 days.

In addition to local therapy, etiological therapy is prescribed. It consists of staphylococcal bacteriophage, antibiotics and restorative drugs.

Staphylococcal bacteriophage is a specific agent. This microorganism destroys bacteria and is safe for humans. Liquid bacteriophage can be used topically, instilled into the eyes, or orally to destroy microbes in the body. Take 2-3 times a day before meals in a dosage calculated by your doctor. The course of treatment is from 7 to 20 days.

Antibiotics are prescribed for severe disease, general deterioration of the condition, rapid spread of infection, or lack of effect from local therapy.

Due to the high resistance of staphylococcus to penicillins, it is recommended to start treatment with the so-called. protected penicillins (Amoxiclav, Augmentin). To these are added cephalosporins (Cefazolin, Ceftriaxin) and macrolides (Erythromycin, Azithromycin).

General restorative therapy may include taking vitamins and medications to treat dysbiosis.

Therapy in children

In newborns and children under 3 years of age, treatment of eye staphylococcus should begin immediately after the first symptoms are detected. In childhood, the infection spreads throughout the body very quickly and can cause damage to internal organs and sepsis.

For treatment use:

• rinsing with boiled water, saline solution or chamomile decoction;
• tetracycline ointment;
• levomecithin drops;
• staphylococcal bacteriophage.

Antibiotic therapy and the use of restoratives are carried out as prescribed by a doctor.

Prevention of staphylococcal infection in children: you need to live like neighbors

And yet! No matter how scary and dangerous staphylococci are (and even the most formidable of them - Staphylococcus aureus), most healthy people and children peacefully coexist with it throughout their lives. Our immune system, being in a normal “working” state, is capable of completely blocking any activity of staphylococci.

And only a serious weakening of the immune system (due to injury, some disease, prolonged exhaustion of the body, etc.) gives a real chance for dangerous staphylococci to attack the child’s body. Thus, there is only one preventive measure that is really effective against any staphylococcal infections - maintaining immunity in an exemplary manner.

Which, as a rule, is facilitated by a healthy diet, systematic hardening, active recreation, frequent and long walks in the fresh air. And any responsible parent knows this list of “events” by heart!

Prevention

There is no specific prevention of staphylococcal infection. To reduce the risk of infection it is recommended:

• strengthen immunity;
• carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene;
• observe the rules of eye hygiene - do not rub or scratch your eyes, do not touch them with dirty hands, keep your contact lenses clean;
• consult a doctor at the first signs of discomfort.

Staphylococcus of the eye is a common disease that every person can encounter. This pathology is not dangerous in itself, but without timely treatment it can cause serious complications. Timely treatment of staphylococcus in newborns and children in the first year of life is especially important. They may develop complications within a few hours and be irreversible.

Author: Dana Shaimerdenova, doctor, especially for Okulist.pro

Prevention of eye infection with staphylococcus

There are not many preventive measures against the introduction of pathogenic flora and they are easy to get used to. First of all, you must maintain personal hygiene:

• avoid repeated use of disposable wipes;
• have a separate towel for each family member;
• Wash your hands regularly and touch your eyes with them as little as possible.

In addition, it is necessary to adhere to hygiene when wearing contact lenses. They must be changed in accordance with the instructions: daily, monthly or quarterly. Before putting on and taking off, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and dry with a clean towel. The lenses themselves should be washed and stored in a sterile solution, which should be replaced after each contact with fingers or debris or dirt.

Neglecting the hygiene of wearing soft contact lenses very often leads to various inflammations and the introduction of bacteria into the eyes.