I Admit It, I'm a Little Freaked Out. Questions.

[wagegoth]

One of my coworkers is very nice, probably the nicest person in the office. She has obviously had some major problems with acne (always has some obvious zits, has scars). I thought it might be a hormonal imbalance, as she has thinning hair (she's in her early 30's) and carries her weight around her waist, combined with incredible stress (family illnesses, deaths and money issues). I didn't really think about it, beyond feeling bad for her.

A friend/coworker and I would take her to lunch, lend an ear, give her pep talks, and always leave her with a hug. She is just so nice.

Since she's expecting, her ob/gyn told her to quit using her acne regimen (the one you see advertised all the time on TV). Her acne has become much worse, covering almost her entire T-zone with a solid mass of huge whiteheads. I think her doctor is a bit overboard about what she eats and puts on her skin, but my CW is worried about possible problems, so she's being super careful.

We hadn't gone out in a few weeks, so when we bumped into each other this week at the elevators, we chatted for a few minutes. The she told me that the acne wasn't just acne, it was a staph infection. She didn't want to take oral antibiotics with the pregnancy, so she was using a topical cream that was having some effect. I have to admit I freaked a bit at the words "staph infection." I stood there and chatted with her, but kept wondering how infectious it might be, could it be spread by touch, was it safe to hug her, and so on. And I'm embarrassed to admit it, but at one point she stepped forward and I stepped back.

So, yes, I'm freaked out. I don't know much about staph infections, and it's very probable that the acne regimen was controlling some of what could have been an infection that has lasted for years. I don't want to avoid her, but I also don't want to risk infection.

Has anybody run into this? What are the risks? What are the odds it will clear up with just topical treatment? Any information you have would be a huge help.

Thank you.

[Food Lady]

The only thing I know at all is that it's possible to have staph on your skin, but never get infected (infection being an overgrowth).

[Flying Grype]

Staphylococcus is the genus name of a bunch of different bacteria species that are pretty much always around us. They're probably in your nose and in your bowels and on your naughty bits all the time without making you sick. If someone else has an infection of them I don't think that makes it likely that you'll get the same infection just by being around them. It's possible that she has a nastier species or strain of them than you do, but even then you can protect yourself by being hygienic.

Wash your hands properly, don't paw at your face (especially if you've e.g. touched her keyboard or something, or really, any keyboard, phone, doorknob...), and just generally take care of your own self and surroundings, and you'll probably be fine.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/infection...ral/staph.html
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infecti...ylococcus.html

[Sapphire Silk]

Staphylococcus areus is a common organism that lives on our skin and is usually harmless unless we have an issue with our immune systems or other stressor (like pregnancy) that makes us vulnerable. Staph is what I call an "opportunistic infection", it's usually benign unless given an opening to run roughshod over the body.

The acne cream your CW was using probably has Vitamin A in it. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that collects in body fat and can create toxicity. It is well known to cause terrible birth defects, which is why your CW can't take it or the oral form (Accutane). Certain antibiotics that are useful in treating acne such as tetracycline are contraindicated in pregnancy because it stains the teeth of the developing fetus, and may impair proper bone development.

The staph infection is not contagious. Just in this particular case, really ugly. I feel very badly for her; she will probably scar. It shouldn't affect the pregnancy unless the infection becomes systemic. Sounds like she is on the ball with her doctor though, so she will mostly likely do fine.

Good handwashing, of course, is always appropriate to reduce any risk of infection.

[ralerin]

As someone who is prone to staph infections, I feel horrible for your coworker.

[Seshat]

At the moment, there's a strain of Staph Areus that's a problem, because it's resistant to the antibiotics we usually use to treat Staph. It's a so-called 'superbug'.

People who have that strain are being put in the infectious-diseases ward of hospitals, and kept isolated.

Since your co-worker is being given a topical antibiotic and is out in public, either her doctor is INCREDIBLY lax - or she doesn't have resistant Staph. My guess is the latter.

In which case, treat her no differently from how you'd treat someone with a flu. Wash your hands, perhaps make sure she has a bottle of sanitizer at her desk. As long as she follows the full course of antibiotics, obeying her doctor and pharmacist, things should be fine.

[Sapphire Silk]

Since your co-worker is being given a topical antibiotic and is out in public, either her doctor is INCREDIBLY lax - or she doesn't have resistant Staph. My guess is the latter.

You're talking about Methicillin Resistant Staph Areus (MRSA). If her doctor cultured it, it takes 3 days for the sensitivity results to come back (ie, what antibiotics are effective).

While MRSA is getting to be more and more a community infection, in the case of this person the culprit is likely the original acne gone wild since she can't take medication to control it.

[Fly]

I have some description of staph infection living on my skin. The result is everything on me gets infected - everything. But its not contagious unless I rub my open wound wound in yours - like with school sores, really. Thats what they call them here, anyway.