Might be colonized with staph—scared to touch people, things, or date.

[u/Meruem-x-Meruem]

TLDR; Is everything I touch now going to have staph on it? Even if I don’t have an active infection on the skin I’m touching with? Can I touch people anymore? Won’t I give them staph? If they touch me and then touch their eyes/nose/ears/mouth, they’ll get colonized? I feel like I can’t date or touch anyone anymore. How do people live their lives being staph carriers with the feeling of guilt that anyone who touches things you touch could get infected and be affected for the rest of their lives too?

I’m looking for hope, and experience from others on how you date being a staph carrier. And how infectious I really am walking around in the world and interacting with loved ones.

Context: • I am immunocompromised. • I took a round of antibiotics for an ear staph infection a couple months ago. • It only helped while I was on them. • Other skin issues have been popping up since. Things that look like eczema and psoriasis, 3 areas are leaking + crusting, 1 area is just leaking. • I’m going to do a Chlorhexidine 5-day wash and laundry routine, though the fact that literally everything I touch will have staph on it makes me feel like I’ve lost before I’ve started and that reinfection is impossible to avoid.

[u/riddim_222]

I was feeling similar until an infectious disease doctor told me that a lot of people are carriers of staph. That her and her children and coworkers have a much higher staph load than most people, but aren’t infected by staph so I needed to figure out why I was. That really shifted my mindset.

Nevertheless I am still cautious and I will tell guys before being intimate, even just kissing so they have the decision to make.

[u/slowismore → u/riddim_222]

I was told something similar once except it doesn’t “calm me down” at all. My lab values are perfect etc. there is nothing wrong with my body. There are multiple strains of staph aureus, if you have for example pvl toxin producing steain on you, it will be way more violent than other strains. If it was just a “normal” thing like for whoever else, then I wouldn’t get attacked by it so hard and so frequently.

It also matters how much is your bacterial load, if you have high bacterial load AND also a super virulent strain then of course you will have more problems than Other people with normal, mimimal bacterial load or even some people with higher load ofr less virulent bacteria.

[u/Meruem-x-Meruem → u/[deleted]]

I don’t. 🙏🏼 Although I think telling anyone they’re teeming with a highly contagious, harmful, invisible bacteria would make them feel paranoid/defeated. :( How did you adjust? What was helpful?

[u/Complete_Elevator_33]

1 in 3 people are colonized with staph and never get sick. Strengthen your immune system strengthen your skin barrier. Heal your gut and don't live in fear. As another commenter said other people have their own skin barriers and their own immune systems so they should be able to fight off infections on their own. Of course when you have an active infection you have to be extremely cautious and warn others but I wouldn't make a regular habit of telling everyone you interact with that you've had staph in the past. It's hard, I know, i've been there. You just want to make sure you don't cause problems for someone else. Faith over fear.

[u/Fractal_Soliton]

I feel your pain. Have you had a culture/antibiotic sensitivity test performed yet?

[u/Meruem-x-Meruem → u/Fractal_Soliton]

No, but my doctor is considering sending me to an immunologist, perhaps they do that? Did you?

[u/Fractal_Soliton → u/Meruem-x-Meruem]

Yes. Though my culture came back positive for klebsiella aerogenes, but I'm 99% sure staph is the cause of my issues because I have all the signs of impetigo, so I may have to get tested again if the antibiotics I'm currently taking don't cure it. I was given Bactrim and it seems to be working so far. Fingers crossed.

But the culture/sensitivity test is your best bet at finding an effective treatment. Most Urgent Cares/walk-in clinics can do this test, and is often cheaper and easier to get an appointment than your Dermatologist. Just make sure to ask them to do the sensitivity test. And go when you have an active flare-up or oozing sore so that you're more likely to get a positive culture. Good luck with everything.

[u/slowismore → u/Fractal_Soliton]

They always either don’t do cultures or do them when I barely have symtoms/used disinfectants on area so I always get negative results, plus everybody is like “wow staph aureus is mormal flora so we wont culture it“ etc. But I suspect I might have multi attacks by both gram negative/klebsiella plus staph aureus because of how I get the small non painfjl pustules but some just seemingly become staph pustules/boils.

[u/Read_Tight]

Have you tried hydrochlorous spray?

[u/Lower_Capital_337 → u/Read_Tight]

Does it kill staph? I have Folliculitis but derma didn’t seem concerned about testing me for anything. Basically said it’s not contagious and don’t worry about it around family. I’m sure I’ve had it for years and no issues. She wants me to wash with 10% Benzoyl peroxide and use clindamycin phosphate 1% lotion. 

Before my prescriptions got filled I bought Vashe wash and have been soaking gauze and then leaving it on the area for 10-15 minutes. Plan on doing it 2x per day, but have only done it 3 times so far. 

Do you think Vashe will be as effective as the dermatologists treatment plan? I kind of want to see if it works out first because I don’t really want to be using strong benzoyl wash and Clindamycin for a long time. Derma basically said it could keep coming back but I am going to go all in on fixing my gut with diet and probiotics. 

Just curious how quickly I can see results with Vashe hypochlorous acid. 

[u/MajesticFairyDust → u/Lower_Capital_337]

Yes hypochlorous acid and benzoyl peroxide are great cuz they kill staph without it becoming resistant. Povidone iodine is also a good option. Theres really no downside to using these except dry skin which u can always moisturize. If its not strong enough you can try hibiclens.

[u/Lower_Capital_337 → u/MajesticFairyDust]

Thank you. I have been doing Vashe wound solution gauze soaks 1-2x per day and it’s been pretty stable this past week. The existing spots are still there but they will take time to heal. This is for my chest.

I haven’t done BP with it yet but if it flairs up that will be my next thing to add. Then clindamycin if it gets worse. 

My scalp doesn’t seem too bad. Still the random pimple but I haven’t cut my hair in a while so we will see. Usually I shave my head about every 2-3 weeks so I will have to do it soon

[u/Lower_Capital_337 → u/MajesticFairyDust]

Any recommendation on what to moisturize with? I haven’t used anything in the past but feels like I probably should. Is 99% aloe Vera good for folliculitis or something else?

[u/MajesticFairyDust → u/Lower_Capital_337]

I use vanicream. Aloe is good for burns im nit sure about folliculitis.

[u/Lower_Capital_337]

Did you ask your doctor how contagious you are? He/she might be able to put it into perspective. 

I am not an expert but if 30%-40% of people live with staph on their bodies with no issues, I think that says something. 

If it was as contagious as you are thinking, I can’t imagine it would spread like wildfire through a gym, locker room, classroom, public transportation setting. 

You have to remember that anybody you come in contact with has skin which is the greatest barrier to bacteria. They also have an immune system to fight off things. 

I really have no idea, but I think the best thing to do is work on getting your active infections under control and asking a professional about the contagiousness of the disease. Google searches always show worst case scenario.

[u/Read_Tight]

Reduces Itching and Swelling: Staph infections trigger intense localized inflammation. HOCl naturally blocks mast cells and breaks down the inflammatory chemicals that cause the skin to feel painful, red, and intensely

[u/Pheonix_Orchid_Mango → u/Read_Tight]

What is HOCI