I just picked up one last week and I've had quite a few of them here in southeast asia. I believe they're more common in the tropics with the combination of heat and humidity plus poor hygiene I've always made it through the infections ok but they can be serious. I had a friend who had a leg amputated. Now I understand there's a direct connection between staph infections and people with artificial heart valves. Wondering what other people's experiences are knowledge base is related to this topic? Here's a quote I got from Google "For individuals with artificial heart valves, a staph infection, particularly from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus poses a significant risk, as it can lead to a serious condition called "prosthetic valve endocarditis" where the bacteria settle on the artificial valve and cause infection, potentially leading to life-threatening complications if not treated promptly; this is because the artificial valve surface can provide a site for bacteria to easily adhere to and multiply. "
