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• Method 1 of 2: Get medical care
• Method 2 of 2: Prevent staph infections

Staphylococcusbacteria are common on human skin and many surfaces. If the bacteria stays on your skin, it's usually fine, but if the bacteria enters the skin through a cut, scrape, or insect bite, it can cause problems. It can cause an infected wound, and if left untreated, it can become life-threatening. You absolutely must go to the doctor for treatment if you think you have a staph infection.

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Method 1 of 2: Get medical care

1. Watch for signs of infection. Staph infection may show redness and swelling. It can also create pus. In fact, it can look like an insect bite. The skin may also feel warm. These symptoms will usually occur near a cut or ulcer. There may also be pus or discharge from the wound.
2. Seek professional medical help as soon as possible. Staph infections can quickly develop into a serious infection. Therefore, if you think you have one, you should call your doctor. Your doctor will probably want you to come as soon as possible and give you instructions on what to do next.
   • If you have signs of an infection in addition to a fever, it is especially important that you see your doctor. Your doctor may want you to come immediately or send you to the emergency room for treatment.
3. Clean the area with an antibacterial soap. Gently wash the area with soap in warm water. You can use a washcloth if you do so gently, but you shouldn't reuse that washcloth until you've washed it. Do not try to squeeze the wound if it is a blister - that will only spread the infection. If your wound needs to be drained, it should be done by a doctor.
   • Make sure to wash your hands after cleaning the area.
   • Use a clean towel when you dry the wound. Do not reuse it without washing it first.
4. Discuss whether your doctor will take a sample. In general, your doctor will want to analyze a tissue sample or culture. The idea is that he can check which strain of the infection you have - once this is identified, he will know which antibiotic that particular microbe is sensitive to.
5. Expect your doctor to drain the wound. If you have a serious infection causing an abscess or boil, your doctor will likely drain the pus from the wound. This does not have to hurt much, as the doctor may numb the area first.
   • Draining a wound generally involves the doctor using a scalpel to make a small incision in it. Then he lets the moisture run out. If the wound is large, the doctor can wrap it with gauze pads to be removed later.
6. Ask about antibiotics. Usually you have to follow a course of antibiotics with a staph infection. One of the reasons staphylococci are so dangerous is because some strains become resistant to certain types of antibiotics. This concerns, for example, the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which must be treated with four antibiotics.
   • You normally take cephalosporin, nafcillin, or sulfa drugs, but you may need to take vancomycin instead, which is less resistant. The downside to this medicine is that your doctor has to give it to you intravenously.
   • A side effect of vancomycin can be the development of a severe, itchy skin rash. It usually covers the neck, face and upper body.
   • You cannot just tell from an infection whether it is staphylococcus or MRSA.
7. Understand when surgery is needed. Sometimes staph infections can develop around a medical device implanted in your body or around a prosthesis. If that happens, surgery may be required to remove the device.
8. Note this complication with other injuries. Staph infections can be a problem in a number of situations, such as when you have surgery. You can also develop a serious condition called septic arthritis when staph gets into a joint, which can sometimes happen when staph is in the bloodstream.
   • If you have septic arthritis, you'll have a hard time using that joint - you'll likely notice quite a bit of pain, as well as some swelling and redness. You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have these symptoms.

Method 2 of 2: Prevent staph infections

1. Wash your hands often. Staphylococci collect on the skin, including under the nails. Washing your hands will prevent them from getting on a scratch, scrape, or crust.
   • When washing your hands, scrub with soap and warm water for 20 to 30 seconds - using a disposable towel is best afterward. In addition, turn off the tap with a towel so that after washing your hands you do not touch the surface where bacteria can collect.
2. Cleaning and covering cuts. When you get a cut or scrape, it's important to cover it with a bandage as soon as you've cleaned it. Using an antibiotic ointment is also good practice. This will help keep a staph infection out of the wound.
3. Wear gloves when helping someone else. If you're working on someone else's cut, it's best to put on clean gloves if possible. If not, wash your hands well and try not to touch the wound itself with your bare hands. For example, you can put the antibiotic ointment on the bandage before draping it over the wound to avoid touching the wound.
4. Shower after exercise. You can catch a staph infection in the gym, hot tub, or steam room, so make sure to shower after exercise to get the best out of bacteria. Always make sure the shower area is clean and do not share shower supplies such as razors, towels and soap.
5. Change tampons regularly. Toxic shock syndrome is a form of staph infection, often caused by leaving a tampon in for more than eight hours. Try to change your tampon every four to eight hours, using the lightest tampon you can handle. Using a tampon that is too absorbent can increase your risk of a staph infection.
   • If you are concerned about toxic shock syndrome, try other methods of managing your period, such as sanitary pads.
6. Increase the temperature. When you do laundry, wash your linens, including your towels and sheets, in hot water. Hot water can help kill the staph bacteria so it can't infect you anymore.