Cystic fibrosis (CF) and staphylococcus aureus infections
Staphylococcus aureus (known as staph) is a bacterium that is quite common in the general population. If someone with cystic fibrosis (CF) develops a staph infection, the bacteria may grow and spread quickly, causing more serious problems. This page from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) explains about staph infections and how we will manage them when your child has CF.
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a bacterium or germ that is commonly found on our skin or in our upper respiratory tract (windpipe). The bacteria can pass from person to person by skin contact but also in droplet form released when someone sneezes or coughs.
Reducing the spread
It can be difficult to prevent staph infections as many people have this bacteria on their skin but there are things you can do to reduce the chances of getting the infection.
Wash your hands with soap and water regularly.
Keep your skin clean by having a bath or shower every day.
Carry disposable tissues with you to blow your nose or cover your cough. Throw the used tissue in the bin – do not carry it around with you.
Always wash your hands (or use hand sanitiser gel) after you have coughed or sneezed. This is as well as throughout the day, before you eat and after you have used the toilet.
Staph infections in CF
As staph infections may be more serious in children and young people with CF, your child will usually be tested routinely for the bacterium during clinic visits and home visits. If your child has a cough, you can also ask the team to check for infection. There are various ways staph infection can be tested:
Cough swab
Sputum sample
The team will explain which is the most suitable for your child at the time. If your child needs to give a sample, we will coordinate this for you, either arranging a home visit from our CF nurses, sending you a testing kit to post back to us or asking your community nurses to take the sample.
Staph bacteria on the skin is usually checked by taking a swab (which looks like a large cotton bud) of various parts of the body, particularly areas that are moist and damp so more likely to carry the bacteria. Routine swabs may also be taken before someone is admitted to hospital.
Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) is another way of taking a mucus sample from lower down in the respiratory system and is not suitable for everyone. It may be suggested if your child is due to have another procedure under anaesthetic.
Getting the results It can take up to a week to test the sample in our laboratories – it takes this long for the bacterium to grow and be identified. If the sample is negative for staph infection, you will not need to do anything else. Of course, if your child develops a cough or any other symptoms that concern you, please contact the CF team as you usually do. If the sample is positive for staph infection, we will talk to you about how it can be managed and treated.
Treating staph infection In the UK, the standard treatment for staph infections is an oral antibiotic called flucloxacillin, usually as a 14 day course of liquid or tablets. More information about flucloxacillin is available on the Medicines for Children website at www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk .
If your child is allergic to penicillin (including flucloxacillin), doctors will identify a suitable alternative. If your child has several confirmed staph infections over a year, we may think about giving them preventative antibiotics (prophylaxis) to help manage symptoms.
Compiled by: the Cystic Fibrosis team in collaboration with the Child and Family Information Group Last review date: October 2020 Ref: 2020F2335
