Mak Bicakcic said he has a lot on his plate this semester. While adjusting to the new stress of transferring schools and beginning classes, Bicakcic believes the last thing he needs to worry about is getting a Staph infection.

Staphylococcus (Staph) is a group of bacteria that can cause a variety of diseases as a result of infection of various tissues of the body, said Beverly Espe, assistant director of Health Services.

Staph bacteria can cause illness not only directly by infection (such as in the skin), but also indirectly by producing toxins responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.

Staph-related illnesses can range from mild and requiring no treatment to severe and potentially fatal. The most common Staph infections are found in minor skin problems, surgical wound infections and food poisoning, Espe said.

“The last thing I’d want my parents to worry about is me getting sick,” said Bicakcic, a junior biochemistry major.

Bicakcic, who transferred from Harper College and now lives in Stevenson Towers North, said he has not heard anything about people getting Staph infections at NIU, since it’s his first week on campus.

“People have been complaining about the weather and getting colds, but I haven’t heard anything about Staph infections,” he said.

One way Bicakcic said he prevents himself from getting an infection is by wearing flip-flops in the residence hall showers.

To prevent Staph infections at NIU, the university is providing educational efforts that focus on prevention and post-infection instructions, Espe said.

“Staph infections are not mainly common in the residence halls,” she said.

“Although, person-to-person spread among those who live close together in group situations does increase the risk when there is a sharing of personal items, like bed linens, towels or clothing.”

Espe said some of the most common precautions to prevent the infection include practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands and keeping wounds covered; not sharing personal items, such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment; and not eating foods in which there is any doubt about how it was prepared, stored or handled.

Marcela Gutierrez, a sophomore Spanish language and literature major, said she has never heard of anyone getting a Staph infection at NIU, though it does concern her. Gutierrez, who lives in Stevenson Towers South, said she is not concerned about getting an infection from the food served at NIU.

“I’ve never really worried about NIU’s food,” she said. “I know it’s not the healthiest, but I think it’s well-cooked. It doesn’t really worry me.”