THE “STAPHYLOCOCCUS” FRAUD.
Dike Victor O. (M.D) dikevictor@yahoo.com
It is very disheartening how some individuals misinform, deceive and defraud
fellow Nigerians in the name of treating “staphylococcus”! We can’t just fold our
arms and allow this anomaly to continue. I want to state it in unequivocal terms
that; THERE IS NO SUCH DISEASE ENTITY CALLED “STAPHYLOCOCCUS.”
As a Family physician , I think it’s time to let Nigerians know the truth, and not be
misled by individuals who flood the streets and mass media with propaganda and
jingles of staphylococcus and how they are specialists in treating it. There is no
such thing. It beats my imagination however that those in authority see and hear
all this misleading information vehemently propagated by these individuals, yet
turn a blind eye. Part of the duty of the Government is to protect the lives of
innocent citizens.
There have been cases of marital discord between couples who accused each
other of marital infidelity based on the mere reason that the other was said to have
been diagnosed of “STAPHYLOCOCCUS” or “STAPH”, (as they fondly call it), by
whosoever, which to them, is a sexually transmitted disease. That informed my
decision to write this piece so as to correct the wrong impressions. I kept
wondering how many other people that may have been wallowing in this pool of
ignorance or living in anxiety, and those that may have been subjected to some
irreversible harm by this misinformation!. The truth is that, there is no sexually
transmitted disease that is called STAPHYLOCOCCUS!
It is not unusual to see people who come to tell you they were diagnosed of
“staph” some years back, that they had been on some medications predominantly
herbal, that they want to do a repeat test to know whether the “staph” has
cleared. This is really funny. Most times, one won’t hide his embarrassment,
considering that some of them are supposedly learned, and worse still may be
working in the hospitals as healthcare providers.
WHAT STAPHYLOCOCCUS IS.
Staphylococcus is one of the numerous bacteria that live in our world, just like
streptococcus. It is classified as a Gramm positive, facultative anaerobic
bacterium and has many species like; staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus
epidermidis, staphylococcus hominis, staphylococcus saprophyticus and many
others. As a matter of fact, most staphylococcus species live all over our skin and
mucous membranes (no matter how clean) as commensal, and do not cause any
harm except in some unusual circumstances. For instance, the staphylococcus
saprophyticus is part of the normal flora of the lower female genital tract. That is
to say, if you take a swab of any part of the skin for culture, it will most likely grow
staphylococcus, and the uninformed will see it as an infection, which it is not! I
often overhear people suggest to their friends and colleagues to go and do culture,
as if it’s the solution to whatever problem they may have. The finding of
staphylococcal organisms outside their usual pathological domain during culture
is most likely to be a contaminant from the skin or immediate environment.
DISEASES CAUSED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES.
1. The staphylococcus food poisoning. The staphylococcus bacteria can gain
access to poorly stored food -soup, fruits, salad etc and infect them. A person
who eats food that has been poisoned with stappylococcus toxin can come down
with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc. that is called staphylococcal
food poisoning.
2. Staphylococcus skin infections like Boils, impetigo, cellulititis, especially in
infants. It can also be seen in immunocompromised, chronic diseases like
diabetes, and intravenous drug abusers.
3. Surgical wound breakdown, injection abscess especially if the skin is poorly
cleaned.
4. It can cause urinary tract infection especially in women, when the normal
commensal in the vagina is transferred to the urethral opening, or during urethral
catheterization for both sexes. As a matter of fact, staphylococcus is the least of
the causes of urinary tract infection. It is not as common as people declare it,
though.
5. In severe cases can enter the blood and multiply and cause endocarditis
(heart), osteomyelitis (bones), pneumonias, abscess in any internal organ, sepsis
and toxic shock syndrome.
WHAT STAPHYLOCOCCUS IS NOT !(CONTRARY TO WIDELY HELD BELIEF)
1. Staphylococcus is not a disease entity, it is just a bacterium.
2. It is not a sexually transmitted infection. It cannot be transmitted via
intercourse.
3. It is not toilet infection.
4. It does not cause loss of sleep.
5. It does not cause “noisy stomach” or crawling sensation in the skin.
6. It does not cause ‘internal heat’
7. It does not cause excessive sweating.
8. It does not cause vaginal discharge.
9. It is not a cause of tubal factor infertility.
10. It does not cause fibroid.
11. It does not cause urethral discharge.
12. It does not cause low sperm count.
13. It does not cause erectile dysfunction.
14. It does not cause premature ejaculation.
15. It does not cause poor sexual performance.
16. There is no such thing as “ chronic staph”.
Symptoms like abdominal noise and epigastric pain may be suggestive of
dyspepsias, while internal heat and crawling sensations may suggest somatoform
disorders. . The advice is that, he who is sick should go and see a doctor who will
advise them appropriately. People should resist being deceived by some
individuals who parade themselves as “staphylococcus specialists”.
Those who have health concerns should go to a qualified medical practitioner for
proper advice and treatment. The government should also rise up and protect the
lives of innocent citizens, by ensuring that correct medical information is
disseminated in the media.

Jic