You may have  heard that Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and Jason “Mayhem” Miller have both recently been diagnosed with Staph Infection.  In Nogueira’s case, this Staph Infection is keeping him from competing in UFC 108 in a bout against Cain Velasquez.

If you are a doctor, you likely know exactly what Staph Infection is, or you should at least, but for the general public and for many MMA fans, this is something they have never heard of.  Because Staph Infection is relitively common in MMA, we figured we would help to educate the MMA fans on this illness.

So, what is Staph Infection and how do you get it?

It is a type of infection caused by a Staphylococcus (or “staph”) bacteria. Actually, about 25% of people normally carry staph in the nose, mouth, genitals, and anal area. The foot is also very prone to pick up bacteria from the floor. The infection often begins with a little cut, which gets infected with bacteria.

These staph infections range from a simple boil to antibiotic-resistant infections to flesh-eating infections. The difference between all these is how deep and how fast the infection spreads, and how treatable it is with antibiotics. The antibiotic-resistant infections are more common in North America, because of our overuse of antibiotics.

The type of staph infection that involves skin is called cellulitis and affects the skin’s deeper layers. It is treatable with antibiotics.

This type of infection is very common in the general population — and more common and more severe in people with weak immune systems. People who have diabetes or weakened immunity are particularly prone to developing cellulitis.

How do you know if you have it?

Staphylococcal disease of the skin usually results in a localized collection of pus, known as an abscess, boil, or furuncle. The affected area may be red, swollen, and painful. Drainage or pus is common.  (See the photo of Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s neck above).

How is it treated?

Antibiotics are used to treat these infections. But there’s been a gradual change in how well these antibiotics work. While most staph infections used to be treatable with penicillin, in the 1980s that changed and stronger antibiotics are now used.

In about 50% of cases, however, resistance is seen to even these stronger antibiotics. These cases are not just happening in hospitals — as once was true — but now are occurring in the general community. That’s been a problem. Many doctors are accustomed to using certain antibiotics, but those then fail because of antibiotic resistance. There are several more potent antibiotics now, but doctors need to know when to use them.

How do you prevent it?

There’s another treatment sometimes used with staph infections. If the infection goes so deep that it involves muscles or fibers that enclose muscles, it needs to be surgically cleaned.

Careful hand washing, avoiding close skin contact with possible infected individuals, and proper hygienic care of skin scrapes, cuts, and wounds can all reduce the likelihood of skin infections due to Staph.

Staph Infection is a very serious condition.  If you think you may have contracted it, see a doctor immediately to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment.  If not treated correctly Staph infections of the skin can progress to impetigo (a crusting of the skin) or cellulitis (inflammation of the connective tissue under the skin, leading to swelling and redness of the area). In rare cases, a serious complication known as scalded skin syndrome can develop.

Much of the information in this article was found on WebMD and MedicineNet and is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or suggest any form of treatment.  Seek the advise of a physician if you think you may have Staph Infection.