Staph Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
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What Is Staph Infection? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What Is Staph Infection? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Everyday Health
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Updated on October 13, 2025
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Staph infections are caused by a type of bacteria called staphylococcus. These germs can live on your skin, in your mouth, and in your nose.

There are more than 30 types of staph bacteria, but the most common is Staphylococcus aureus.

 About 30 percent of healthy adults have S. aureus in their nose, and about 20 percent have it on their skin.

Most of the time, staph doesn’t cause a problem. But if the bacteria spreads deeper into your body, you can develop a serious, or even life-threatening, infection.

Types of Staph Infections

There are two types of staph infections, broadly speaking: skin infections and invasive infections. Skin infections are much more common and, most of the time, less serious, although they can be annoying and painful. But they can develop into invasive infections if they’re left untreated. Invasive staph infections can be life-threatening if they’re not managed properly.

Skin Infections Caused by Staph

Some examples of skin infections that can be caused by staph include:

Folliculitis In folliculitis, the hair follicles (the small pockets in the skin where strands of hair grow) become inflamed and often infected. Men with curly hair who shave their beard close to the skin often get folliculitis on the face and neck.

Stye A stye is a small, red, very painful bump that grows from the base of an eyelash or under the eyelid. Other symptoms include sensitivity to light, tearing, crusting, and the sensation that something is in your eye.

Boils Boils are red, swollen, painful lumps that form under the skin. They usually start as an infected hair follicle that enlarges and fills with pus (bacteria, white blood cells, and dead skin). Boils, also called furuncles, often occur on the face, neck, armpits, buttocks, or inner thighs. A cluster of boils that form a connected area of infection is called a carbuncle.

Skin Abscess A skin abscess is a pocket of pus surrounded by a thick membrane under the skin. Abscesses form when the body tries to protect itself from an infection by walling it off. Skin abscesses are usually larger and deeper than boils. A healthcare provider can treat an abscess by cutting a hole in the wall of the abscess with a surgical knife and draining the pus. Applying warm compresses can also drain it. Antibiotics can treat smaller abscesses.

Cellulitis Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and the tissue just beneath it. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly affects one of the lower legs.

Impetigo This common and highly contagious staph infection begins as small blisters, usually on the face, hands, or feet, that eventually develop a honey-colored crust. Impetigo usually affects young children, but anyone can develop it.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome This condition is caused by toxins produced by a staph infection and results in peeling skin over large areas of the body. The skin might look burned or scalded. It most often affects babies and young children.

Wound Infections These infections usually crop up two or more days after you’ve had a skin injury or surgery.

Invasive Staph Infections

Invasive staph infections happen when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Some types are:

Sepsis Sepsis is a widespread inflammatory response to a severe infection. A bloodstream infection is one of the most dangerous outcomes of staph. It can spread throughout your body and lead to sepsis, affecting the function of internal organs.

Septic Arthritis This infection targets your joints, often the knees, hips, shoulders, finger joints, or toe joints.

Toxic Shock Syndrome This rare but serious condition can happen when staph bacteria get into your bloodstream and produce toxins. Toxic shock syndrome has been linked to the use of high-absorbency tampons, but anyone, including men, children, and women who don’t use tampons, can develop it under certain circumstances.

Endocarditis Endocarditis happens when bacteria affect areas in your heart, most typically the heart valves. If it’s not treated quickly, the infection can damage or destroy your heart valves and spread throughout the body.

Osteomyelitis This uncommon but serious condition happens when a bone in your body becomes infected.

Pyomyositis Pyomyositis is a rare bacterial infection of the skeletal muscles, which are the muscles you use for movement.

Pneumonia Pneumonia is a common infection that causes inflammation and fluid accumulation in the air sacs of your lungs, making it very hard to breathe comfortably.

Food Poisoning Food poisoning connected to staph is caused by eating foods contaminated by toxins that are produced by the bacteria. It is not a true bacterial infection and should not be treated with antibiotics. Foods typically become contaminated by being touched by people who have staph on their hands.

Drug-Resistant Infections: MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph infection that’s resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Most cases of MRSA occur in people who’ve been in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. But so-called community-associated MRSA, in which the infection is spread outside of hospitals or healthcare facilities, also occurs.

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are contributors to the development of MRSA. On an individual level, you can help prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance by taking antibiotics only when necessary (not for viral infections like the flu or colds) and when they are prescribed to you by a doctor. Also, always finish your full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms have improved, to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, such as MRSA.

Signs and Symptoms of Staph Infection

Your symptoms of a staph infection will depend on what type of infection you have.

Skin infections typically cause redness, swelling, warmth, and pain — but all of those symptoms can range from mild to severe. Impetigo sores may or may not be painful, for example, while boils almost always are.

Some skin infections caused by staphylococcus, such as cellulitis or an infected wound, may cause a fever in addition to redness and pain at the site of the infection.

Invasive staph infections, such as sepsis (also called septicemia), endocarditis, and pneumonia, typically cause significant illness that may include fever, fast breathing or shortness of breath, fatigue, and sometimes confusion or disorientation.

Any time an illness affects your breathing or heart function — even if you don’t know what that illness is — you should seek medical attention quickly. Symptoms that could be a sign of a serious staph infection that requires immediate medical attention include:

  • Rapid breathing
  • Fever or chills
  • Changes in mental state, like confusion or disorientation
  • Severe joint pain and swelling
  • Vomiting
medical graphic on How Staph Infection Affects the Body, symptoms include fever and chills, rash or skin irritation, diarrhea or vomiting, sore joints or muscles, swelling, skin redness or warmth, breathing changes, painful skin lumps, confusion
Depending on what part of your body is affected, symptoms of staph infection may be contained to your skin or systemic.Everyday Health

Causes and Risk Factors of Staph Infection

Healthy people may carry staph bacteria and never know it, but when the skin is broken, the germs can enter the opening or wound and cause an infection.

Staph bacteria can also enter the body via urinary catheters, intravenous lines, or other implanted medical devices. The bacteria can additionally be present on tattoo needles that have not been properly cleaned and needles used to inject drugs, particularly if they are shared or reused.

Some staph infections of the skin are contagious and can pass from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. Staph bacteria can also survive on objects or surfaces, such as bedsheets, towels, or clothing. If an area of your skin is broken, touching contaminated items can be another way to get staph.

Infections are common in group living facilities, such as college dorms or prisons, where people are in close contact with one another. Warm, humid environments are also breeding grounds for staph.

Anyone can get a staph infection, but certain factors increase your odds.

You may have a higher risk of developing a staph infection if you have an underlying medical condition, such as:

People who’ve had a recent surgery or have been hospitalized also have an increased risk of developing staph infection.

Taking certain medicines, including corticosteroids, insulin, or chemotherapy, can increase your chance of contracting staph.

Sometimes staph bacteria spreads through medical tubing, such as dialysis tubes, urinary catheters, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, or intravascular catheters. You might have a greater chance of getting staph if you use certain devices that require tubing.

Playing a contact sport is another risk factor for staph. The bacteria can spread through skin-to-skin contact while playing or through touching equipment, towels, razors, or other items that are shared in the locker room.

Research shows that staph is more likely to be transmitted from person to person in a residence that:

  • Has a lower cleanliness score (based on observations of odor, clutter, and grime)
  • Is rented and crowded
  • Houses people who share bedrooms, towels, or hygiene items
  • Contains MRSA contamination on surfaces

Hygiene habits that reduce the risk of staph transmission among household members include showering instead of taking baths, brushing teeth twice daily, and practicing frequent handwashing.

How Is Staph Infection Diagnosed?

To diagnose a staph infection, your doctor will examine any skin lesions you have and possibly take a skin or tissue sample or throat or nasal swab for a lab test to identify the cause of the infection.

In some cases, a doctor may order certain imaging tests if a deeper or internal infection is suspected. An echocardiogram, for example, can help your provider determine if the infection has affected your heart.

When to See a Doctor About Staph

You should make an appointment with your doctor if you have:

  • Any suspicious area of red or painful skin
  • A high fever or fever accompanying skin symptoms
  • Pus-filled blisters

Treatment and Medication Options for Staph Infection

Antibiotics are the main line of treatment for most staph infections. The choice of antibiotic depends in part on how serious your infection is and what type of staph you have. Some minor skin infections will heal on their own with no drug treatment.

In addition to antibiotics, sometimes surgery is also needed to drain a wound, abscess, or boil.

Invasive staph infections usually require hospitalization for IV antibiotic treatment to fight the infection and other supportive treatment to help you heal.

Medication Options

Antibiotics commonly used to treat staph infections include:

  • Cefazolin
  • Nafcillin
  • Oxacillin
  • Vancomycin
  • Daptomycin (Cubicin)
  • Doxycycline
  • Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim)
  • Clindamycin
  • Linezolid (Zyvox)

Complementary and Integrative Therapies

Some people are interested in therapies to treat their staph infections that are not antibiotics. Many internet claims tout applying natural substances, such as coconut oil, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils, to the skin. But there’s little to no research about the effectiveness of these products.

One natural remedy that has shown potential promise is manuka honey. This type of honey has demonstrated antimicrobial activity and the ability to enhance the effects of some antibiotics.

Still, more research is needed before manuka honey can safely be used to treat staph. It’s not recommended to use honey as a remedy at this point.

Always talk to your doctor before trying any type of complementary or integrative therapy.

Prevention of Staph Infection

Staph bacteria are everywhere. You can’t avoid contact with them completely, but you can reduce your risk of developing an infection.

Some simple measures can help prevent the spread of staph including the following.

Stay clean. Keeping your hands and body clean is the most important way to prevent a staph infection. Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time, and shower daily. If you don’t have soap handy for hand-washing, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Clean any wounds. Clean cuts, scrapes, and other injuries thoroughly with soap and water to rinse out dirt and bacteria.

Cover wounds. Put a bandage on any skin wounds until they heal completely.

Avoid sharing personal items. Don’t share towels, sheets, athletic equipment, or clothing with another person who might have a staph infection.

Change tampons frequently. If you use tampons, change them at least every four to eight hours to avoid developing toxic shock syndrome. Keeping tampons in for extended periods creates an environment that can cause bacteria to grow. It’s also a good idea to use the lowest absorbency tampon necessary to manage your menstrual flow.

Wash clothing and linens in hot water. If you or someone in your household has a staph infection, wash your clothes, towels, and bedding in hot water, using bleach, if possible. Dry the laundry in the dryer, making sure it is completely dry before you remove it.

Be careful about the food you eat. Wash your hands before preparing food or eating finger foods. Make sure that the hot foods you eat stay hot until you serve them, and the cold foods stay cold. The temperature of hot foods should be above 140 degrees F, and the temperature of cold foods should be below 40 degrees F. Don’t consume foods that don’t look or taste normal, or that may not have been stored safely.

Use clean razors to shave. If you get a staph infection in an area you normally shave, avoid shaving until the infection clears. If you must shave, use a clean disposable razor. Don’t ever share razors with other people.

Wash yourself and your clothing after playing sports. Athletes should shower right after a game, competition, or practice. Also, wash your workout clothes and uniforms regularly, and keep your equipment clean.

How Long Does Staph Infection Last?

The healing time for a staph infection depends on your age, your overall health, the type of infection you have, and what treatment you use.

For a skin infection, for example, doctors often prescribe antibiotics for 5 to 10 days. Some people may feel better within a few days (though still need to finish the full course of treatment). Others may need to take antibiotics for longer depending on how the infection responds.

The outlook for staph infections depends on the type of infection and how much it has spread in your body. Any underlying medical conditions may also influence how quickly you heal and recover.

Healthcare providers can easily treat most superficial skin infections. But if you develop a serious infection that turns into sepsis, your prognosis is much worse. It’s important to get treatment right away if you experience symptoms, as these infections can be fatal.

One study including 490 people with a staph infection in the bloodstream found that 33 percent of them died within 90 days, with the majority of deaths occurring in the first 30 days.

Complications of Staph Infection

One of the most serious complications of a staph infection is when the bacteria invade the bloodstream and lead to sepsis, which is an inflammatory response caused by infections.

Sepsis can turn into septic shock, a life-threatening condition that causes your blood pressure to drop dramatically and additionally causes organ damage.

More than 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with sepsis each year. In the United States, sepsis is a leading cause of death in hospitals.

Sepsis is more common in very young children, older adults, and those with chronic diseases or weakened immune systems.

People who survive sepsis may experience long-term complications, such as:

  • Chronic pain and fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Memory loss
  • Amputations
  • Worsened cognitive function

Research and Statistics: Who Has Staph Infection?

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States.

About 33 percent of Americans are colonized with staph and about 2 percent with MRSA, but most of these individuals won’t develop a serious infection.

Still, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 119,000 people get a bloodstream staph infection in the United States each year, and nearly 20,000 die.

Disparities and Inequalities in Staph Infections

Anyone can develop a staph infection, but some research suggests that Black Americans in particular may be more susceptible to staph infections than other people.

Reasons for this disparity are not well understood. Researchers suggest higher rates of underlying diseases are likely a factor.

One study from the CDC found Black and Hispanic people who are on dialysis with end-stage kidney disease have higher rates of S. aureus bloodstream infections than their white peers. The risk was found to be 40 percent higher in Hispanic people and 10 percent higher in Black people. These groups are already disproportionately affected by kidney disease, researchers noted. Access to care and other underlying diseases, like hypertension and diabetes, may also contribute to susceptibility to infection among these groups.

More studies are needed to determine why MRSA affects different races at different rates.

Related Conditions

While staph is a common cause of infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and sometimes other tissues in the body, it’s not the only possible cause. These are some of the other germs to be aware of:

Some of the same preventive steps that can lower your risk of a staph infection, including keeping your hands and body clean and not sharing personal items such as towels and razors, can also help reduce your risk of skin infections from other causes as well.

Common Questions & Answers

How do you get a staph infection?
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These germs can live on contaminated surfaces, implanted medical devices, and improperly cleaned needles.. If an area of your skin is broken, skin-to-skin contact or touching contaminated objects may also lead to infection.
Staph skin infections take several forms. Impetigo, which is a common staph infection, especially in children, consists of small blisters that develop a honey-colored crust. You may see boils or styes, which are small, red, painful bumps that contain pus.
Some staph skin infections are minor and can be treated with antibiotics. But when the bacteria invade the bloodstream and cause an inflammatory response known as sepsis, it can lead to death.
Staph symptoms depend on the type of infection. Skin infections typically cause redness, swelling, and pain, ranging from mild to severe. Some skin staph infections, such as cellulitis or infected wounds, may also cause fevers.
Some minor skin infections will heal on their own with no drug treatment. But antibiotics are the main line of treatment for most staph infections, and underlying medical conditions can influence how quickly you heal and recover.

The Takeaway

  • Staphylococcus, or staph, infections are caused by bacteria commonly found on the skin.
  • While many are minor skin infections, staph infections can become serious if the bacteria enter deeper into your body.
  • Get medical help if you experience symptoms like a suspicious area of red or painful skin, pus-filled blisters, high fever, or fever accompanying skin symptoms.
  • To protect yourself, keep cuts and wounds clean and covered, and practice good hygiene, especially handwashing.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Jane Yoon Scott, MD

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Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health, and encouraging them to ask questions so that they can make informed and thoughtful decisions.

She graduated with the highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency training and chief residency at Temple University Hospital, as well as a fellowship in infectious diseases at Emory University. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases.

When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Scott works with neighboring health departments to promote public health, especially to communities that have been historically underserved. She also teaches medical trainees and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine.

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Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has been featured in WebMD, SELF, Healthline, A&E, Psych Central, Verywell Health, and more. Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being. She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.

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