Staphylococcus aureus

What is VISA/VRSA?

VISA/VRSA are antibiotic resistant forms of staph bacteria. Staph bacteria is one of the most common bacteria, most often found harmlessly on the skin and in the noses of healthy people. Occasionally, the staph bacteria can cause an infection. In fact, staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of infection in the US. Most of these infections are minor. However, they can sometimes be very serious, and even fatal. Most staph bacteria can be successfully treated with the antibiotic Vancomycin.

What is Neisseria Meningitis?

Neisseria Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the fluid around spinal cord and brain. It is sometimes called Spinal Meningitis.

There are bacteria (types of germs) that can cause bacterial meningitis. Some of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in the United States include Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus, Listeria and Neisseria meningitidis.

Children younger than 5 years are at greatest risk, followed by teenagers of high school age.

What is HIB?

Haemophilus influenza is a family of bacteria. Haemophilus influenza type B (also called HIB) is the most dangerous member of this family. Before the introduction of the HIB vaccine in 1988, HIB was a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. HIB also causes ear infections, sinus infections and pneumonia in children.

What Is Group B Streptococcus?

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacterium that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. It is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining surrounding the brain) in newborns. One of every 20 babies with GBS disease dies from infection.

What Is Varicella?

Varicella, or chicken pox, is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus of the herpes family.

What is scabies?

Scabies is an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei. Scabies is very common. It is found worldwide, and affects people of all races and social classes. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes.

What Is legionellosis?

Legionellosis, also called " Legionnaires' Disease", is an infection caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. The disease has two distinct forms: Legionnaires' disease, the more severe form of infection which includes pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a milder illness.

An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people get Legionnaires' disease in the United States each year. Some people can be infected with the Legionella bacteria and have mild symptoms or no illness at all.

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a contagious viral illness that occurs worldwide. The virus is spread by contact with saliva respiratory tract (mouth and nose) droplets of a sick person. Mumps is preventable. Click here for more information on how people catch the disease and the vaccine that helps prevent it.

What is SARS?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. The illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.
Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world.

What is group A strep (GAS) and invasive group A strep?

Group A Streptococcal (GAS) bacteria cause common infections such as strep throat and impetigo. At any time up to 10% of school children may carry the bacteria and have no symptoms. The CDC estimates that there are several million cases of strep throat and impetigo. Most Group A Streptococcal infections are not serious or invasive and are not reportable to the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control. Invasive Group A Strep infections are rare complications of GAS.