Treatment of Staph Infections
Staph infections can have a variety of treatments, depending on the severity and location of the infection. MRSA, a form of staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics, can be a little more difficult to treat. Here is a look at some of the options you have to treat staph and MRSA infections.
Keeping the area clean is an important part of curing staph infections. Antibiotic soaps and warm, moist compresses a few times of day can help to clean the wound out.
Severe infections may require antibiotics. If the staph infection is MRSA, your doctor may need to do a culture to determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating your infection.
In the most serious cases, IV antibiotics may need to be administered. These IV antibiotics are also used for staph infections of the face. If the staph infection is on an internal organ, surgery may be required to treat it.
Some people prefer to take a more natural approach to treating staph infections, and with MRSA in particular, which may not respond to traditional antibiotics, these treatments may prove beneficial. Yoga can help the patient to relax and will stimulate the immune system, acupuncture can draw heat away, and herbal remedies can help the body cope and battle the infection.
There are several popular herbal remedies to treat staph and MRSA infections. Garlic is thought to have antibacterial properties and consuming garlic or garlic oil capsules at the sign of an infection may help. Cleavers are an anti-inflammatory herb that can help reduce the swelling of lymph nodes and heal internal abscesses. They can also be applied as a compress to skin infections. Goldenseal can be used to fight inflammation and infection, and can be made into a paste to apply to skin infections. Echinacea can be taken internally to support the immune system. Thyme, lavender, or bergamot oils can be applied to skin infections to prevent scarring, and tea tree oil is applied directly to fight infection.
It is impossible to say how long it will take for a patient to recover from a staph infection, particularly MRSA. Some people respond well to treatments and recover quickly, while others become seriously ill and need long term care, and a few may even die.
The best treatment for MRSA and other staph infections is prevention. Hands should be washed with warm water and soap frequently, and particularly in the presence of open wounds. Pus from infections should be cleaned immediately, and affected areas cleaned with antibacterial soap. Patients should shower during the healing process, and have their own linens to use. Linens should be changed daily until symptoms are gone, and laundered separately.
Getting plenty of green, yellow, and orange vegetables can help strengthen your immune system. When ill, ask your doctor about any special vitamin or mineral supplements that may be beneficial, and drink plenty of water each day. Make sure that all commonly used surfaces throughout the house are disinfected frequently, including doorknobs, light switches, counters, and handrails.
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