Can staph be transmitted to people?

[MeghanB]

I understand that chickens have natural staph on them. I wondered if it could be transmitted to people, say if you had an open wound on you? I can't find anything relevant on the internet and have looked thru the forums here too.

Thanks for your help!

Meghan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ozark/Barefoot-Gardens/181991665166532#!/

http://www.localharvest.org/barefoot-gardens-M44267

 

[Minniechickmama]

I just had a rooster I put down because he developed what I believe was staph in his feet. Not one, both feet. I don't know what could have caused him to have this come on, but it did and it got bad fast.
I am trying to find info on staph to know what precautions I need to take to reduce problems that might come from this episode in my flock.
I am NOT a germaphobe. I understand there are germs EVERYWHERE. HOWEVER, I think it is pretty high and mighty when so many of you took that stand that the OP is some paranoid germaphobe for asking a very reasonable and responsible question about a very dangerous thing. How much bad news has been spread about staph/MRSA over the last few years. It is nothing short of SMART to question and be preventive about such things. So, to those of you who think it is so silly and paranoid to worry about germs, stop washing your hands. Sounds stupid, doesn't it? Well, so does accusing someone of being paranoid just because they want to educate themselves, folks. Part of the reason this site is so popular is because people can come here to find answers, after all.

 

[Suzie]

So....... I have health problems... I have a compromised immune system... Rheumatoid Arthritis and I have TNF blockers plus other drugs....

I have over thirty chickens and I love them all.... they enhance my live and I could not consider being without them....!

I have an infection in my left foot... probably a Staph Infection... I am going into Hospital on Tuesday next for treatment or removal of bones.... I do not care.. what will be will be.

What I am trying to say is that my chickens are worth any problems that may face me....they give me a reason to survive....live with whatever life faces you... you will be a better and stronger person for your resolve!
;

 

[squeakyballs]

Eh, who cares. People are colonized with staph, too. And a lot of us have MRSA in our noses.

 

[MeghanB]

I care, that's why I asked.

 

[Abirdbrain]

What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. IF YOU ARE THAT WORRIED ABOUT GERMS, MOVE INTO A STERILE BUBBLE!

Ok, if you get my drift, it is what it is, chickens and farms and pets, OHMY! They have hair, germs and dander. Get over it. While you would not EAT chicken poo, rest assured you will contact it and everything else that is Mother Dirt too. Simple changes in life style about laundry and hand washing, changing farm boots for shoes inna house, well, it is just thinking and living diferent. Hospitals are terrible places to be sick, they have ALL the forms of germs. Most germs in nature have benefitial effects, even if they are terrifying when they get out of whack. Our human body reads the invaders and takes care of most of them, over time. So dont be stupid about exposure, but dont worry about the normal risks either, Nature the Mother is always watching over her flock, and it includes me and you.

 

[serenityNH]

From what I know in my experience most everyone including animals carry the staphylococcus virus but you won't be affected by it unless you have a weakened immune system.

I have a cat with FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and a mother in law whom has MRSA (she is now in a nursing home) every time she would come over my cat would get a staph infection and to the vet we would go for 30 days of antibiotics. My vet kept telling me it was impossible for my MIL to give staph to my cat but after a half dozen times of my cat coming down with staph every time she was over my vet finally agreed that yes it was possible. Another relative who had a older dog whom was sick also contracted staph from my MIL after her visiting.
Soon we got smart and locked our cat in the bedroom when she would come over! After that he has never had another staph infection. All of our other animals whom were healthy and my husband and I never contracted it and we have been tested numerous times just to be safe. Obviously we were holding and petting my cat when he had a full blown staph infection and we were just careful to wash our hands and we had no problems.
So I'm pretty sure unless you have a extremely weakened immune system from HIV or Chemo etc then I wouldn't worry. Bacteria is everywhere, all you can do is wash your hands and keep a clean environment.
I would spend to much time worrying about it

 

[greenkjb]

Hi Meghan,
I am a nursing student, so I can tell you what I learned in school. Staph is everywhere. It lives in the environment on on our skin. Open wounds can become infected; generally it is when someone's immune system is compromised, not a normal healthy person, that it colonizes and causes an infection. Hope that helps!

 

[ChickiKat]

I agree with what most are saying here. I am a respiratory therapist and I feel pretty sure I probably have MRSA in my nose.... Try to get over any germaphobia you may have. When we first starting with chickens I was so afraid of getting EColi from them. I would hold one and then wash my hands, hold one then wash my hands. Now I hug and hold them and dont give two hoots about germs etc. What I am cautious of though is cleaning the coop, there are a number of fungal lung infections you can get from chickie poop. Wear an N95 mask when scooping the poop. Hope this helps you......

 

[nurseamc]

Meghan,
You are correct. Chickens do carry staph. However, so do dogs, cats, and humans. About 1/3 of the human population carry staph as part of their skin flora. You come into contact with staph constantly throughout your day. When you have to be concerned is when you have come across a strain of staph that is antibiotic resistance (Methicillin Resistance Staph Aureus) or coagulase positive staph. Staph infections can cause minor skin infections like pimples, boils or even more severe skin issues such as cellulitis. Staph can also cause more serious infections like pneumonia, endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome in those individuals that have lowered immune systems, etc. In chickens, staph is the culprit for bumblefoot.
I guess the best advise that I can give you is to stay healthy. After contact with animals (and humans) wash you hands with soap and water. If you have open wounds, cover them up until they have started to scab over. If you notice any of your wounds turning red, swelling or draining, contact your doctor asap! I would recommend purchasing some surgical gloves at your local pharmacy to use when you are working with your animals if you have wounds on your hands. But the best advise I can give you is to relax. The chance of you getting a staph infection from your birds are pretty slim if you wash your hands frequently.

Alicia
(ICU nurse)