What is a Staph Infection?
What is a Staph Infection?A staph infection is an infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria. The majority of staph infections are S.aureus. There are many sites of staph infections, and they can range from minor infections to life-threatening illnesses. Staph infections often affect the skin but can also affect the blood, bones, digestive system, lungs, or heart.
Staph infections should be treated as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading and causing serious problems.
Staph infection vs. MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. When it occurs in a community—such as among athletes in sports settings, children and staff in daycare, or students in schools—MRSA most often causes skin infections.
Hospital-acquired MRSA is spread in healthcare settings and can cause severe infections of the blood, lungs, or surgical incisions.
Types of Staph Infections
TypesThere are more than 30 types of staph infections, including:
- Skin staph infections - Staph bacteria can cause open sores, boils (pockets of pus in hair follicles and oil glands), impetigo (a painful rash), cellulitis (infection of the deeper skin layers), and scalded skin syndrome (which damages the top layer of the skin)
- Mastitis - This is an infection of the breast tissue during breastfeeding when bacteria from the baby's mouth enter the breast through a cracked nipple
- Bacteremia - This staph infection of the bloodstream can lead to sepsis, a severe immune response to the infection. Bacteremia can affect internal organs, bones, muscles, and surgically implanted devices such as pacemakers and artificial joints.
- Endocarditis - Staph bacteria can infect the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves
- Bone infections - Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bones. Septic arthritis is an infection of the joints, such as the shoulders, hips, knees, fingers, and toes.
- Food poisoning - Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, which affects the stomach and intestines. The most common reason for contamination is that the food has not been kept hot enough or cold enough.
- Pneumonia This lung infection causes the lung's air sacs to fill up with fluid or pus
- Toxic shock syndrome - This infection is often linked to the use of certain types of tampons, skin wounds, and surgery. It is life-threatening and can lead to organ failure.
Signs & Symptoms of Staph Infections
SymptomsThe signs and symptoms of a staph infection vary depending on the location and type of infection. A primary care physician can examine you to make a diagnosis and get you started on treatment.
Staph infection symptoms include:
- Staph skin infections may cause red, swollen, and painful pimples or boils, sometimes with draining pus or other fluid. Impetigo turns into a crust on the skin, while cellulitis causes redness and swelling and makes the skin feel hot.
- Mastitis causes swelling, pain, and abscesses (collections of pus) in the breast
- Bacteremia causes a fever and a drop in blood pressure
- Endocarditis produces flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, and fatigue. Some people experience shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and swelling in the arms or legs.
- Bone infections can cause pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the infected area, and sometimes fever and chills
- Food poisoning typically causes nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes a fever. Patients may also become dehydrated and have low blood pressure.
- Pneumonia symptoms include cough, chills, and a fever. Some people may have shortness of breath and chest pain.
- Toxic shock syndrome results in a sudden drop in blood pressure along with high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and confusion. Some people develop a rash that looks like a sunburn.
Staph infections in children
Staph infections in children most often affect the skin. The most common are folliculitis (infected hair follicle), impetigo, cellulitis, styes (infections of the eyelid), and scalded skin syndrome. If your child has skin symptoms that suggest a staph infection, contact a pediatrician for care.
What Causes Staph Infections?
CausesStaph infections result from staph bacteria that have entered the body through a cut or wound. Most people carry staph bacteria on their skin and in their noses, but it is generally not a problem unless there is a break in the skin.
Staph bacteria can easily spread from person to person on objects such as:
- Towels
- Pillowcases
- Door handles
- Athletic equipment
- Devices such as remote controls
- Clothing
- Food
Risk Factors for Staph Infections
Risk FactorsCertain health conditions, behaviors, and settings may raise your risk of a staph infection, including:
- Antibiotic use
- IV Drug use
- Long-term care at a hospital or health facility
- Chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, blood vessel diseases, lung disease, eczema, and weakened immunity
- Use of a catheter, feeding tube, or breathing tube
- Recent history of surgery
- Contact sports in which you share equipment or have skin-to-skin contact with others
- Unsanitary food preparation
How to Prevent Staph Infections
PreventionThere are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a staph infection:
- Practice good handwashing hygiene often and thoroughly
- Avoid sharing sheets, towels, and clothing with someone who has a staph infection
- Try not to share athletic equipment if possible
- If you are breastfeeding, try to empty each breast entirely at each feeding, and if possible, let the nipples air dry
- Practice food safety
- Keep all wounds and cuts covered until they are healed
- Change tampons at least every 4-8 hours and use the lowest absorbency tampon possible
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Staph Infection Care
If you have a staph infection, schedule an in-person visit or virtual urgent care appointment* with a primary care provider at a NewYork-Presbyterian campus or a NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group location to receive diagnostic care and treatment.
We offer same-day appointments for those with urgent needs, convenient early, late, and weekend hours, connection with our patient portal, and referrals to NewYork-Presbyterian specialists. Most insurances are accepted. Contact us today for an appointment.
*Restrictions apply