Prescription antibiotics are the fastest and only reliable way to kill a staph infection. For minor skin infections, this means prescription creams or oral pills. For deeper or antibiotic-resistant (MRSA) infections, a doctor may need to drain the wound or prescribe intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Because of this, more than one antibiotic may be needed to clear out an infection. And with serious staph infections, you may need to take more than one antibiotic at the same time. Antibiotics may be taken by mouth, such as cephalexin or doxycycline. But others are given through a vein, called intravenously.
The most common place to get a staph infection is on your own body. Staph bacteria (primarily Staphylococcus aureus) naturally live harmlessly on the skin and in the noses of about 30% of people. An infection develops only when these bacteria enter the body through a cut, scrape, or wound.
To kill staph (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria on your skin, you should use an antiseptic skin cleanser containing 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), such as Hibiclens. These medical-grade washes kill bacteria on contact and continue protecting the skin for hours.
A staph infection usually clears up in 1 to 3 weeks, but the exact time depends heavily on the type of infection and the treatment it requires:
Most staph infections can be cured with antibiotics, and infections are no longer contagious about 24 to 48 hours after appropriate antibiotic treatment has started. Staph infection (Staphylococcus aureus) is an infection caused by a common bacteria found on the skin and inside the nasal cavity.
Keep the wound clean and covered with a sterile, dry bandage until it's fully healed. If your wound is infected with staph, it should be treated. Covering the wound can help prevent staph bacteria from spreading to other areas of the skin and to other people, since pus containing staph can leak from an infected wound.
Washing hands well and often is key to preventing staph infections. Encourage kids to keep their skin clean with a daily bath or shower. If a skin condition such as eczema makes regular bathing difficult, ask your doctor for advice.
The first signs of a staph infection depend on how it enters your body. Most commonly, it starts on the skin as a small, painful red bump, boil, or pimple-like blister. The affected area is typically swollen, warm to the touch, and may drain pus or clear fluid.
To kill staph (Staphylococcus aureus) in your laundry, you need to use high heat or a chemical sanitizing agent. Standard detergents wash away dirt and oils but do not always eliminate the bacteria.
When a staph infection enters your bloodstream (bacteremia), it can quickly escalate into a life-threatening condition like sepsis. The only definitive way to know if staph is in your blood is through a blood culture test ordered by a healthcare provider.
Staphylococcus bacteria can cause a wide variety of illnesses ranging from mild skin conditions to life-threatening internal infections. Four common diseases caused by this bacteria include:
The deadliest staph infection is MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). While standard staph bacteria are common, MRSA is particularly lethal because it has developed resistance to most standard prescription antibiotics. Untreated or invasive cases frequently progress into life-threatening conditions.
Whether you should be worried about Staphylococcus aureus (staph) depends on whether it is simply "living" on your body or actively causing an infection.
There is no single "strongest" antibiotic for Staphylococcus. The best choice depends entirely on whether the specific strain is susceptible to standard medications or resistant (like MRSA).
When a staph infection goes untreated, it can spread from minor skin bumps or boils into the bloodstream, bones, and internal organs. This progression can lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis (an extreme immune response) and septic shock, or cause severe damage to the heart, lungs, and joints.
They'll prescribe some antibiotics. But if you're having fevers with it, chills, you see streaks tracking up your arm, I would recommend going to the ER because those are cases where you may need some blood work, you may even need IV antibiotics and admission to the hospital.
You remain contagious with a staph infection for as long as active bacteria are present in or on your body. This usually means:
Symptoms of a staphylococcus (staph) infection depend on where the bacteria enters the body. While many symptoms are universal, women should also watch for specific conditions like toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and mastitis.
Yes, Staphylococcus bacteria can briefly survive on the surface of bar soap, especially if the soap is left damp in a puddle of water. However, the risk of them transferring to your skin or causing an infection during routine use is exceptionally low.
You cannot tell the difference between a standard staph infection and MRSA just by looking at it. Both appear as red, swollen, painful, pus-filled bumps on the skin. The only way to definitively know is through a lab test performed by a doctor.
The "3-minute rule" is a dermatologist-recommended practice of applying moisturizer within three minutes of stepping out of the shower while your skin is still slightly damp. This technique locks in hydration and prevents transepidermal water loss (evaporation).
Wash soiled sheets, towels, and clothes with water and laundry detergent. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes. Talk to your doctor. Tell any health care providers who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.
Look out for these classic early warning signs: Red, swollen bumps: These often resemble a spider bite or a large pimple. Warmth and pain: The infected area will feel unusually warm to the touch and painful. Pus or drainage: The bump may develop a white or yellow center and ooze fluid.
Staph infections come from Staphylococcus bacteria, which are common germs. About 30% of people normally carry these bacteria on their skin or in their noses without getting sick. Infections happen when the bacteria enter the body through an opening—like a cut or scrape—or spread from person to person.