Infection after surgery | Staphylococcus aureus

Infection after surgery

After an operation, various factors can trigger an infection with Staphylococcus aureus. On the one hand, the immune system is particularly weakened after surgery, which promotes infection. On the other hand, hospital germs such as MRSA, which can infect the patient, are more common in hospitals.

Infection is also favored by the surgical wound, which offers the bacteria good conditions for colonization. Also, more patients are operated on at an older age than young patients. These persons generally have a weaker immune system than younger persons.

All these factors lead to a higher incidence of Staphylococcus aureus infection postoperatively. This can lead to the typical diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus. However, sepsis, endocarditis or wound infection is particularly common. These diseases must be treated with antibiotics, otherwise they can be fatal.

Occurrence

Staphylococcus aureus is permanently present on the skin of up to 20% of the population. Staphylococcus aureus is temporarily detectable in up to 80% of the population. Especially hospital staff or people who are often in hospitals as patients show a higher percentage.

The bacterium does not develop pathogenic properties, but forms part of the normal skin flora. However, these persons can also serve as carriers and infect other persons with Staphylococcus aureus. This is particularly problematic with MRSA.

Staphylococcus aureus can also occur in the mucous membranes in addition to the skin. The mucous membranes of the nose, sinuses and throat are particularly affected. This is a higher percentage among hospital staff or people who are frequently hospitalized as patients than in the normal population.

The bacteria in the mucous membranes can also be a cause of infection of other people. Staphylococcus aureus can also cause infection of the middle ear with subsequent middle ear infection. The bacterium enters the middle ear via the Eustachian tube, also known as the Tuba auditiva or Eustachian tube.

This is the connection between the middle ear and the nasal or pharyngeal cavity. Typically, only one middle ear is infected. The detection of Staphylococcus aureus in the blood always has disease value.

In the blood, the bacterium can multiply well and cause not only sepsis but also endocarditis. The bacterium’s access routes to the blood can be manifold. After the formation of an abscess, Staphylococcus aureus can subsequently infiltrate the surrounding intact tissue and attack the supplying blood vessels.

Furthermore, the bacterium can settle relatively well on superficial skin wounds and infiltrate the vessels as well. Indwelling venous cannulas and central venous catheters (CVC) also pose a particular risk for the development of staphylococcal sepsis, as the bacteria can also reach the blood vessels by migrating down the plastic structures. Staphylococcus aureus can infiltrate and destroy the healthy tissue of a person due to various enzymes it releases.

This can lead to the development of an abscess. The formation of an abscess always poses a risk of infiltration of surrounding blood vessels, which can lead to sepsis. Within this abscess the bacterium can sometimes be detected by microbiological cultivation.

A pimple is caused by a blockage of a skin pore. As a rule, there are no complications when a pimple occurs. The blockage can be caused by various substances.

Among other things, sweat or sebum can cause a blockage. This creates good conditions for colonization by pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Here, the bacteria can also proliferate strongly and cause further symptoms.In extreme cases, the pimple may spread to a boil, carbuncle or abscess. There is a risk of the development of sepsis.