How common are staphylococcal infections?
Staphylococcal skin infections are very common, particularly among children, teenagers and young adults. This may be because at a young age the immune system is still underdeveloped. Impetigo, for example, accounts for 10% of all reported skin conditions in children. Invasive staphylococcal infections are less common than skin infections, but they are much more serious. This is because once the bacteria penetrate the skin and enter the blood, or the organs, they can rapidly multiply and release toxins which can cause multiple organ failure and a massive drop in blood pressure. This is a serious complication of infection that is known as sepsis. Endocarditis is also a very serious condition because it can lead to heart failure. It is estimated that for every 100,000 people in England, 30 will develop an invasive infection in any given year.
