From hips to heart valves, medical implants can improve and even save ave lives. But the high-tech devices can also  be a safe haven for dangerous staph infections, triggered by bacteria most of us carry on our hands. The outcome for patients can be devastating.

KING

An artificial knee can harbor dangerous bacteria.

Kay Hill loves being on the water.

But these days, she spends much of her time in and out of doctor's offices, battling an aggressive infection she contracted three years ago after heart surgery.

"I lost half my little finger from the infectious disease, almost lost my big toe," Hill said.

She almost lost her life.  

"The complexity of these infections are growing and in a word that's because of devices -- medical devices,” said Dr. Vance Fowler, infectious disease specialist at Duke University.

Devices like artificial hips, knees and heart valves can become breeding grounds for the bacteria, making hospital hygiene more important than ever.   

Officials say there is a way to dramatically reduce the risk.  

"I think its fair game for patient or family member to ask their healthcare worker if they wash their hands before they examine them," Fowler said.

But it’s too late for Kay. Her infection has settled in her bones, leaving her in constant pain.

"It's been an interesting three years," she said.  

Doctors say Kay will be on life-long antibiotics to help keep her infection in remission. She's too weak to undergo surgery to have her heart valve replaced.

While Kay's case is extreme, implant infections are not rare. As many as 20 percent of patients with pacemakers end up with an infection.

The research also found most of the staph infections did not originate with the device, but spread from another area.

A recent study by Duke finds the cost for treating staph infection for a patient with a prosthetic device was $67,439 dollars for patients with hospital-acquired S. Aureus bacteremia and $37,868 dollars for community-acquired S. Aureus bacteremia.

While 25 percent to 30 percent of the population carries staph bacteria, approximately 1 percent carries MRSA Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contact with contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.

To prevent MRSA skin infections, practice good hygiene:

1.  Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

3.  Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

4.  Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with certain antibiotics.

See your healthcare provider if you suspect you have a staph infection, follow your provider's directions carefully, and follow the above prevention steps both while you have the infection and after it is gone.