Staff Infections

[disty]

Is a staff infection contagious from one person to another.Example: If an infected person touches the infection and then handles food or touches another person will they pass the germ on?

[muddyd]

my daughter works in a chemical plant and after working in over 100 degree weather, she said her ears were burning, after reaching up and touching them she dicovered little blisters or bumps.  The company meds said it looked like poison ivy, so she went to a local MD and he said it was a staph infection.  until that hot day working in the plant she was fine.  could extreme heat, and sweating  have caused this ?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

In theory yes, although in practice many patient I see who get staph (short for staphylococcus, a kind of germ) infections weren't exposed to anyone or anything that would explain it.  Staph germs live on our body and sometimes cause trouble, so the infection doesn't have to come from outside.  But it is possible to spread it, so if someone nearby gets a suspicious eruption, they should of course check it out.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff