Student health confirmed this week an increase in the number of students with staph infection.

Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as “staph,” is a bacterium found on most healthy people, despite that they will likely show no symptoms. However, when it enters the human body, it can cause an infection and trouble anywhere in the body. This infection can cause the affected area to become swollen and painful to the touch. Staph usually enters the body through an open cut or break in the skin, and is diagnosed by taking culture and examining to see if it shows signs of the staph bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the infection looks similar to a bug bite, a pimple or a boil on the skin. After about a day, the spot on the skin will become red, warm, painful to the touch and could have drainage.

According to the director of UTM’s Student Health Shannon Deal R.N., staph can be spread in a number of ways. It can be contracted by coming in contact with drainage from someone else’s staph infection. Staph can also live in sheets that aren’t cleaned properly or cleaned enough. On college campuses, staph is often transmitted by shared equipment in team sports, such as helmets, gloves and other equipment. It can also spread through sharing razors or other hygienic toiletries. But in any case, there must be some kind of break in the skin’s integrity.

Deal says that “nobody is at fault, however there are measures that students can take to prevent getting a staph infection.” Deal recommends taking personal hygiene measures, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water.

“Most students wait a couple of days to a week before they come to let us look at the abnormalities on their skin. If there is something that you notice that is abnormal, get it looked at soon,” Deal said. Student health does not culture to find staph infections; rather, they do an exam and diagnose by what they see as common symptoms of a staph infection. When a staph infection is diagnosed, oral or topical antibiotics are prescribed, and the patient can expect the infection to be cured in around seven to 14 days.

Students who think they might have a staph infection should contact Student Health by phone at 881-7750. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.