A bee sting and a subsequent bacterial infection are two distinct medical events, though one can lead to the other. A sting involves injecting venom, which triggers a localized inflammatory response. Separately, a staph infection is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, commonly found on the skin. When a sting breaks the skin’s barrier, these bacteria can enter deeper tissues and cause an infection.
Differentiating Normal Reactions from Infection
A typical response to a bee sting involves immediate pain followed by a red welt, minor swelling, and itching at the site. These symptoms are caused by the body’s reaction to the venom and usually peak in intensity within the first 48 hours. After this point, a normal reaction will begin to steadily improve over the next several days.
A secondary bacterial infection, such as cellulitis caused by staph, presents with different and worsening symptoms. The key difference is the timing; signs of infection often appear or become worse two to three days after the sting, just when a normal reaction should be subsiding. These signs include redness that spreads over a larger area, increasing pain, and warmth when the site is touched. The presence of pus, yellowish drainage, or a fever are clear indications of a bacterial infection.
It is also important to distinguish these reactions from a severe allergic response, or anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency. Anaphylaxis occurs rapidly after a sting, usually within minutes to a couple of hours. Symptoms include:
- Hives or a rash spreading across the body
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in the throat
- Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
These symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention and the administration of epinephrine if available.
How Bee Stings Become Infected
The bee itself does not transmit Staphylococcus bacteria. An infection occurs because the puncture wound creates an entryway for bacteria already on the skin to invade deeper tissues. The primary cause for introducing bacteria into the wound is scratching, as the intense itchiness can damage the skin further and transfer germs from fingernails. Proper first aid can significantly reduce the likelihood of an infection:
- Remove the stinger promptly by scraping it sideways with a flat-edged object like a credit card.
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and relieve itching.
- Use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or an oral antihistamine to manage the urge to scratch.
Medical Treatment for an Infected Sting
If signs of a spreading infection like cellulitis appear, seeking an evaluation from a healthcare provider is necessary. A doctor will diagnose the infection based on a physical examination. If there is pus or drainage, the provider may take a sample with a swab for a lab culture to identify the bacteria and determine the most effective antibiotics.
The standard treatment for a bacterial skin infection is a course of oral antibiotics. For cellulitis caused by common Staphylococcus aureus, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic such as cephalexin or dicloxacillin for a period of five to ten days. It is important to complete the entire prescription, even if symptoms begin to improve, to ensure the infection is fully resolved.
In some cases, a localized collection of pus known as an abscess may form at the sting site. If this occurs, a doctor might need to perform a procedure called incision and drainage. This involves numbing the area and making a small cut to allow the pus to drain out, which relieves pain and helps clear the infection.
A more serious consideration is an infection with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a strain of staph that does not respond to many common antibiotics. If MRSA is suspected or confirmed by a culture, a doctor will prescribe different antibiotics, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or clindamycin.