Have you used a home testing kit for a medical diagnosis?

COVID-19 RATs are an example of these types of tests but we are interested in the many others on the market.

The University of Wollongong is conducting a small study about them and we'd like to hear from you if you have used one or considered using one.

Simply complete a short survey at:
https://uow.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeodpzn8lgSsAbI

From here, we may invite you to take part in a paid interview.

For more information, contact Dr Patti Shih: pshih@uow.edu.au
 

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What are staph wound infections?

Staphylococcus aureus, also called S. aureus or staph, is a bacterium that commonly colonises the human skin and is present in the nose of about 25 to 30 per cent of adults. S. aureus can exist in this form without harming its host or causing symptoms. However, if there is a break in the skin from a wound or surgery or intravenous access device, or if there is a suppression of a person's immune system, colonising S. aureus can cause an infection.

Staph often causes localised skin infections such as infected hair follicles or boils (folliculitis, furuncles), and impetigo. It can also cause abscesses and spread into the bones (osteomyelitis), lungs (staphylococcal pneumonia), blood (bacteraemia or sepsis), heart (endocarditis) and other organs. Staph may also infect other people as it can be passed from both infected and colonised people to others through skin contact or through sharing contaminated objects, such as towels or razors.

Hospital-acquired infections

Hospital and healthcare acquired staph infections have been a challenge for many years. The confined population in hospitals and long-term care facilities combined with the widespread use of antibiotics have led to the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus. Staph organisms that are resistant to the beta-lactam antibiotics are called methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), named after the antibiotic treatment that was developed in 1960 to treat penicillin-resistant strains. Infections caused by MRSA are often resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics (multi-resistant) and are associated with significantly higher rates of complications and death (morbidity and mortality), higher health care costs, and longer hospital stays than infections caused by methicillin susceptible S. aureus.

Classic risk factors for MRSA infection in the hospital include surgery, prior antibiotic therapy, intensive care admission, exposure to a MRSA-infected patient or health care worker, being in the hospital more than 48 hours, or having an indwelling catheter or other medical device that puctures the skin. 

Community-acquired infections

MRSA infections in the community are becoming increasingly important, particularly over the past decade. They have been associated with a growing number of outbreaks and deaths in non-medical settings where individuals are in close contact, such as in contact sports, daycare facilities, military units and prisons. These infections are occurring in people who do not have any of the classic MRSA risk factors. Until recently, part of the problem with community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been a lack of awareness, both in the medical community and the general population. Historically, doctors have treated staph infections with a standard course of antibiotics. They did not routinely order cultures to identify the microorganism and its antibiotic susceptibility profile unless the infection appeared extensive or the initial treatment was unsuccessful. When treating CA-MRSA, conventional therapies have often failed. A number of those affected have required hospitalisation for intravenous antibiotics and a few previously healthy people have died.

Investigations of these outbreaks have revealed that the CA-MRSA was spread from infected or colonised people to those around them through skin contact (such as sports-related cuts and abrasions), respiratory droplets (sneezing or coughing), or through exposure to contaminated objects (such as shared sports equipment, towels, toys, or playground equipment). Investigations also revealed that the S. aureus strains involved in CA-MRSA are not the same strains as those that are causing hospital-acquired MRSA; they are genetically distinct. The CA-MRSA are resistant to methicillin and related antibiotics (dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, cefalexin) but often remain susceptible to many other antibiotics (non-multiresistant).  


Last Review Date: May 26, 2023


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