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PRIMARY CARE SERVICES

Diagnosis & Treatment

Staph Infection

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How is Staph Infection Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

Your primary care physician will determine if you have a staph infection by starting with a physical exam and asking about your symptoms. Many times, a doctor can see if you have a staph skin infection just by looking at it.

The physician may order other exams to confirm a staph infection or to see how it affects other organs, such as the heart, lungs, or bones. Tests used to diagnose staph infection may include:

  • A skin scraping, tissue sample, stool sample, or throat or nasal swabbing is to be tested for the presence of staphylococcus bacteria
  • Imaging tests such as an echocardiogram to diagnose endocarditis, which uses sound waves to see how your heart is pumping

How can a primary care doctor help?

A primary care physician can evaluate your symptoms and order any needed tests to make or confirm a diagnosis of staph infection. If you have an infection, your doctor can prescribe medication to treat you. If you have an infection that requires another doctor's expertise, your primary care doctor can refer you to a specialist.

How is Staph Infection Treated?

Types

Most staph infections can be treated with medication, but sometimes other therapies are required.

Antibiotics

The most common treatment for a staph infection is a course of antibiotics, such as nafcillin, oxacillin, cefazolin, vancomycin, daptomycin, and linezolid. Most of them can be taken orally (by mouth), but for more severe staph infections resistant to oral antibiotics, you may need to receive them intravenously (by vein). Vancomycin and daptomycin are examples of intravenous antibiotics.

Be sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better before the prescription is finished.

Drainage

If you have an infected wound, a doctor may sometimes make a small incision to drain it and then clean it thoroughly.

Surgery

If your infection involves an implanted device—such as a catheter, pacemaker, or joint replacement—the device may need to be removed. This may require surgery. Some bone infections also require surgery.

FAQs

FAQs

A staph infection of the skin may cause red, swollen, and painful pimples or boils, sometimes with draining pus or other fluid; a crusty surface on the skin; or redness, swelling, and warmth if deep skin layers are infected.

Yes, a staph infection is very contagious. For this reason, practice good handwashing hygiene and avoid sharing anything with other people if you have a staph infection, such as towels, clothing, or bedding.

Someone with a skin staph infection will see the wound area getting smaller and returning to a more normal appearance. Someone with a staph infection of the internal organs will have a drop in fever, more energy, return to more normal blood pressure, and see other resolved symptoms.

A staph infection should no longer be contagious after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment.

A staph infection should no longer be contagious after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Staph Infection Treatment

If you have symptoms of a staph infection, contact NewYork-Presbyterian for an in-person visit to one of our campuses or medical groups or to schedule a virtual urgent care appointment.*

We offer convenient hours and scheduling, connection with our providers through a patient portal, and referrals to specialists. We also take most insurance plans.

*Restrictions apply