Staphylococcal infections
Introduction
Staphylococcal infections are a group of infections caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus. You may have heard them referred to as "staph infections".
Staph bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, from relatively minor skin infections such as Carbuncles , to more serious infections of the blood, lungsand heart.
There aremany typesof Staphylococci, but most infections are caused by a group called Staphylococcus aureus.
This group of bacteria includes meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) , which is resistant to certain antibiotics that are commonly used for staph infections, such as flucloxacillin.
It also includes PVL-Staphylococcus aureus,which produces a toxin called Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which kills infection-fighting white blood cells and can cause recurrent skin infections, such as boils and abscesses.
This page covers some of the main types of staph infection, including information on how theseinfections are spread and treated.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016
Introduction
Read about some of the main types of Staphylococcal infections, including how they're spread and how they're treated.
Types ofstaph infections
Staph infections can be broadly classified into two groups: skin and soft tissue infections, andinvasive infections. Examples are given below. Skin and soft tissue infections Most infections caused
How you get a staph infection
Staph bacteria are common. About one person in every three carries the bacteria harmlessly on their skin, usually inside their nose and on the surface of their armpits and buttocks. However, the bact
Who is affected
Staph skin infections are common, particularly among children, teenagers and young adults.Invasive infections are much rarer. Both types of infection can affect healthy people, but more serious infec
Treating staph infections
Some minor staph infections, including minor Carbuncles and food poisoning, don't need specific treatment and will get better on their own within a few days or weeks. In some cases, antibiotic tablet
Preventing staph infections
You can reduce your chances of developing staph infections by: washing your hands with soap and warm water regularly particularly if you come into contact with someone who has a staph skin infection
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