Staph infection can you get rid of it

This could be an infection called cellulitis. This could be impetigo, which often affects the face. A red, swollen eyelid could be a stye. Information: Staph bacteria can also cause more serious infections, like blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you think you have a staph skin infection and:.

Also see a GP if you keep getting staph infections. 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. The toxins do not respond to antibiotics.

Children with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome generally need to be treated in the hospital with antibiotics, intravenous fluids, skin creams or ointments, and pain medicines. Because SSSS causes large areas of skin to peel off, similar to a scalding burn, kids with this condition are often treated in the burn unit or intensive care unit of the hospital.

MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and other drugs in the penicillin class. For minor skin infections caused by MRSA, a variety of oral antibiotics are still effective — as long as every dose of the prescribed antibiotic is taken. People with serious MRSA infections are usually treated with the antibiotic vancomycin , although in recent years some strains of Staphylococcus aureus have become resistant or less sensitive to it, too.

Some serious MRSA infections are treated with a combination of two or more antibiotics. As antibiotic resistance has become a growing concern, researchers have tested the effectiveness of other substances, including various types of honey, at helping to stop the growth of staph bacteria. Manuka honey , in particular, has been found to have antimicrobial activity and to augment the effects of certain antibiotics in treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA infections.

But the use of honey in treating staph infections is still in the experimental stages. Simply slathering a possible skin infection with honey is unlikely to be effective and not recommended.

If you do develop a staph infection on your skin, some basic hygiene measures will encourage healing and help to prevent the spread of infection:. Primary care doctors, such as internists, family medicine physicians, and pediatricians, can treat a mild case of staph.

In some cases, your primary care doctor may refer you to a dermatologist for staph infections of the skin. If your infection progresses or you develop complications, you might have to see an infectious disease specialist or a surgeon. If you experience severe symptoms, such as a red or tender area of skin going numb, a reddened area becoming larger or hard to the touch, worsening pain, or high fever or chills, you should seek emergency medical attention at once.

Skin infections that occur in or around the eyes should also be treated as an emergency. Most minor skin infections have a very good prognosis. But infections that are caused by drug-resistant bacteria, turn severe, or develop into conditions like sepsis an extreme immune response to infection or pneumonia infection of the lungs can be deadly. Pneumonia kills about 50, people in the United States annually, although not all pneumonia is caused by staph bacteria.

Being aware of the symptoms of a staph infection , seeking help promptly, and following an effective treatment approach are the best ways to fight staph. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. References Diagnosis and Treatment of Staphylococcus Aureus. Minnesota Department of Health. Penn Medicine. May 7, Most staph infections on the skin are easy to treat and typically respond well to antibiotics or by draining the infected area, Dr.

Ford says. If staph moves deeper into your body, it becomes dangerous and may require a longer course of treatment — or even hospitalization. Some staph bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat them. This is known as MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Most MRSA infections are skin infections, but it can also cause more serious infections. The infected wound may require surgical or local drainage. Your doctor likely will prescribe a stronger antibiotic to treat it as well. The best way to avoid it is to maintain good hygiene, Dr. If you think you have a staph infection, Dr.