Can a past staph infection lead to septic shock?

Question

Hello doctor,

I had a staph infection and I took antibiotics a month ago. I had been in the sun a lot recently and I am feeling symptoms of heat exhaustion, but I am worried that the staph infection is causing septic shock? Is this a possibility?

Kindly suggest.

Thankyou.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you have been suffering from a feeling of heat exhaustion as you were more exposed to the sunlight and worried about Staph infection that may cause septic shock. You had a staph infection one month back and you took antibiotics for that. So, I think your previous staph infection was well eradicated by taking antibiotics. Even without treatment, it can be eradicated within 10 to 20 days. Staph infection may cause life-threatening condition like sepsis.

Clinical features of sepsis are high fever with chills and rigors, rapid pulse rate, rapid breathing, hypotension, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. When staph bacteria enters a person's bloodstream and develop an infection that may affect the entire body and cause death is known as sepsis. You have not mentioned here that you are affected by sepsis-like clinical features and no history of having sepsis in the past. So now, you are free from staph infection and no chance of sepsis caused by staph infection.

I hope this helps.

Thankyou.