Staph infection

Symptoms of a staph skin infection can include: a painful red lump or bump (a boil , carbuncle or abscess ) hot, red and swollen skin ( cellulitis ) sores, crusts or blisters ( impetigo ) sore, red eyelids or eyes ( styes or conjunctivitis ) Redness affecting the skin or eyelids may be harder to see on brown or black skin. A painful red lump on the skin. It could also be an abscess (a build-up of pus). Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/251716/view Hot, red or swollen skin. This could be an infection called cellulitis. Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/252466/view Sores, crusts or blisters on the skin. This could be impetigo, which often affects the face. Credit: BIOPHOTO ASSOCIATES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/538104/view Impetigo also sometimes affects other parts of the body. Credit: ISM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/690527/view A red, swollen eyelid could be a stye. Credit: WESTERN OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/252333/view If your eye is affected, it could be conjunctivitis. Credit: WESTERN OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/256528/view Information: Staph bacteria can also cause more serious infections, like blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome . These are much less common than skin infections.

Staph infections usually get better on their own, but you may need treatment from a GP if your symptoms do not get better after a week. You may need: antibiotic tablets, creams or eye drops a small procedure to have any boils, carbuncles or abscesses drained and cleaned a stye removed by a GP Some people may be referred to a specialist if treatment from a GP does not help.

The bacteria that cause staph infections live harmlessly on many people's skin, often in the nose and armpits and on the buttocks. They usually only cause an infection if they get into the skin, such as through a bite or cut. Staph bacteria can spread to others through: close skin contact sharing things like towels or toothbrushes droplets in coughs and sneezes (but this is less common)

It can be difficult to prevent staph infections because many people have the bacteria on their skin. But there are things you can do to lower your chances of getting an infection or spreading the bacteria to others. Do wash your hands with soap and water regularly keep your skin clean by having a bath or shower every day keep any cuts clean and covered use disposable tissues to blow your nose Don’t do not share towels, washcloths, bed linen, toothbrushes or razors