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Diagnosis and treatment of staphylococcal infection
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Diagnosis of staph infection
Staphylococcal infection is diagnosed based on the detection of purulent foci of inflammation. Of decisive importance is the detection of pathogenic staphylococcus in the lesion and especially in the blood. For serological diagnostics, RA with an autostrain and a museum strain of staphylococcus is used. An increase in the antibody titer in the dynamics of the disease undoubtedly indicates its staphylococcal nature.
The titer of agglutinins in RA 1:100 is considered diagnostic. Diagnostic titers are detected on the 10th-20th day of the disease.
The complex of laboratory methods uses the reaction of neutralization of toxin with antitoxin. The increase in the titer of antistaphylolysin and antitoxin also indicates the staphylococcal nature of the disease. However, these reactions give less clear results in newborns and premature babies. Currently, PCR, ELISA, and the latex agglutination method are replacing traditional methods.
Treatment of staph infection
In mild forms of localized staphylococcal infection, symptomatic therapy is usually sufficient.
In severe and moderate forms, complex therapy is used: antibiotics and specific anti-staphylococcal drugs (human anti-staphylococcal immunoglobulin, anti-staphylococcal plasma, staphylococcal toxoid, staphylococcal bacteriophage, therapeutic staphylococcal vaccine). According to indications, surgical methods of treatment, non-specific detoxifying therapy, vitamin therapy are used. To prevent and treat dysbacteriosis, bacterial drugs are used (atsipol, bifistim, bifidumbacterin, dry bificol, etc.), as well as stimulating therapy that increases the body's defense mechanisms (taktivin).
Patients with severe forms of staphylococcal infection are subject to mandatory hospitalization, regardless of age. Newborns and especially premature babies are hospitalized even with mild manifestations of staphylococcal infection.
Of the antibacterial drugs, semi-synthetic penicillinase-resistant penicillins and third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins are preferable.
In acute sepsis, abscessing destructive pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, two antibiotics are prescribed simultaneously in maximum doses. Their intravenous administration is most effective.
Specific antistaphylococcal drugs
- For all severe and generalized forms of staphylococcal infection, human anti-staphylococcal immunoglobulin is used. This drug contains not only anti-staphylococcal agglutinins, but also antitoxin, it is administered intramuscularly at a dose of 5-6 AE/kg per day, daily or every other day, for a course of 5-7 injections. Currently, human anti-staphylococcal immunoglobulin is produced for intravenous administration, which is recommended for use in sepsis and other severe generalized forms of staphylococcal infection.
- Hyperimmune antistaphylococcal plasma contains antistaphylococcal antibodies (antitoxin) and has a bactericidal effect on staphylococcus. It is administered intravenously at intervals of 1-3 days at 5-8 ml/kg (at least 3-5 times).
- Staphylococcal toxoid is used to stimulate the production of specific staphylococcal antitoxin. It is indicated in cases of protracted pneumonia, sepsis, enterocolitis, recurrent staphyloderma, furunculosis and other diseases when the body's ability to immunogenesis is particularly suppressed. The toxoid is administered subcutaneously in increasing doses (0.1-0.2-0.3-0.4-0.6-0.8-1.0 U) at intervals of 1-2 days.
General principles of treatment of staphylococcal gastroenteritis and enterocolitis are the same as other acute intestinal infections. Patients are hospitalized according to clinical and epidemiological indications.
In case of food toxicoinfection, it is necessary to wash the stomach with a 2% solution of sodium bicarbonate on the first day of the disease. In case of severe toxicosis with dehydration, infusion therapy is carried out first, and then oral rehydration.
In case of staphylococcal skin infections (furuncles, carbuncles, staphyloderma, etc.), the use of staphylococcal therapeutic vaccine gives good results. The drug is administered subcutaneously in the shoulder or subscapular region. The course of treatment consists of single daily injections according to a specific scheme for 9 days. In diseases with widespread skin lesions that occur with relapses, it is advisable to conduct a repeat course of treatment after 10-15 days.
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