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Is staphylococcus aureus bacteria in the throat or nose contageous? Can it be transmitted by kissing if it was in the throat?
16 يونيو 2015
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د. Zakia Dimassi طب الأطفال
Having staphylococcus aureus (staph for short) in the nose and throat is known as a state of colonization, and the affected person is described as a carrier. Carriers have living staph bacteria on or inside their bodies. It is estimated that 30% of people carry Staph bacteria, and about 1-5% carry Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), a more vicious strain of the staph bacteria. Staph usually colonizes the skin and/or inside the nose or throat without causing any symptoms. Carriers do not necessarily develop an active infection.

So how does one become a carrier? What are the risk factors for the carrier state? Staph bacteria is easily transmitted by being close to infected people, and this most commonly occurs in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and in others. Family members can also become carriers (or get infected) by caring for their children or parents who are infected.

MRSA bacteria are commonly caught when coming in contact with surfaces and objects that are contaminated with the bacteria (such as phones, door knobs etc.). The bacteria is deposited on the skin. The carrier state may also be the sequel of a previous infection. It can also pass through the air on dust and other particulates.

Can a carrier infect someone else? Yes, it is possible to spread the bacteria to other people, and those people may or may not get infected or become carriers themselves. This depends on the risk factors discussed above.
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