Angela Onwuzoo
The Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, says it is untrue that staphylococcus aureus can’t be transmitted through sexual acts.
Anyaike noted that staphylococcus, a bacterial infection found on human skin, could cause infection when it gets to the wrong place including the private parts.
PUNCH reports that there are myths and misunderstandings surrounding the transmission of staphylococcus through sexual acts. While some physicians argue that staphylococcus could not be transmitted sexually others believe the bacterial infection could be sexually transmitted if it gets into the private parts.
In 2018, Oluwaseun Garuba, a professor at the Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, said staphylococcus couldn’t be sexually transmitted in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, Anyaike maintained that staphylococcus could be sexually transmitted just like other organisms like ecoli.
He also emphasised that people could get staphylococcus in the hospital through contaminated objects, warning that everyone was at risk of the infection.
Giving reasons why staphylococcus is sexually transmitted, the public health expert explained, “Staphylococcus is not supposed to be in the vagina or urinary tract. So, once it enters there, it is in the wrong place and can be sexually transmitted just like other organisms like ecoli.
“Ecoli is not supposed to be in the vagina or the male private part. If staphylococcus is in the wrong place, it will start growing and then give symptoms that will make you very uncomfortable.
‘If you are a woman and you have staphylococcus in your vagina or thereabout, ordinarily, your body may react by discharging or by itching because it is in the wrong place or you will be having a burning sensation because it is in the wrong place.
“So, what do we mean by sexually transmitted? Because it has entered the wrong place and if you have sex with a man because it is during the sexual act that the man will collect it from you, the man picks it and he has sex with another woman and introduces it to her. So, that is why it is sexually transmitted.”
He urged people to improve their hygiene and avoid multiple sex partners, warning that sometimes, people get infected with staphylococcus without knowing the source.
He further noted, “A lot of things can be sexually transmitted when an organism is in the wrong place, it becomes sexually transmitted. Sexually transmitted is a channel through which infection has happened. When you carry an organism into another place that is not supposed to be through sexual acts, it becomes sexually transmitted.
“So, staphylococcus can be sexually transmitted. It is not a normal organism in the vagina. You can see it on the skin. It is also a normal contaminant in the laboratory. Even during foreplay, staphylococcus can be introduced into the vagina. So, your hygiene must be high and you must be decent.”
“Ordinarily, staphylococcus is not supposed to be found in the vagina of a woman and the urethra of a man because it is in the wrong place and if it is in the wrong place it can come up with itching, and a burning sensation.”
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says staphylococcus aureus is a germ found on people’s skin.
CDC states that staphylococcus can cause serious infections if it gets into the blood and can lead to sepsis or death.
“People are at higher risk for staph infection when they have surgery or stay in healthcare facilities, have medical devices in their body, inject drugs, or when they come in close contact with someone who has staph”, CDC added.
Anyaike further said that sometimes, staphylococcus comes as a contaminant in laboratory procedures.
“Staphylococcus can be found on normal skin, sometimes, that is why it comes as a contaminant”, he added.
The physician stated that staphylococcus could be treated and cured if the person diagnosed with the infection takes appropriate treatment.
“If an infection is caused by staphylococcus when it is widely cultured, it can be treated, and cured by appropriate antibiotics when it has gone through the sensitivity test.
“Because the organism is stubborn, sometimes, it changes its mutation which is why it has become resistant to common antibiotics.
“When you have staphylococcus, once you treat yourself, you treat your partner.”
He counselled people diagnosed with the infection to adhere to their medications as recommended by their physicians to avoid the organism becoming resistant to drugs.
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology says
staphylococcus is a type of bacteria found on human skin, in the nose, armpit, groin, and other areas.
According to the association, staphylococcus is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, such as abscesses, boils, furuncles, and cellulitis (red, swollen, painful, warm skin).
“Staphylococcus aureus germs can also cause more serious infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves), and bone and joint infections.
“It is spread by touching infected blood or body fluids, most often by contaminated hands”, the association said.
Researchers in an article published by the American Society for Microbiology say staphylococcus is a major human pathogen that causes a wide range of clinical infections.
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