How do You Get Rid of a Staph Infection?

Staph, Golden Staph or Staphylococcus Aures is a bacterial skin infection that is (unfortunately) common in those with weakened immune systems (from HIV, poor diet, drug use and so on) and people who avoid showers like they the plague. Staphylococcus aureus—literally "Golden Cluster Seed"—is the most common cause of staph infections. It's a spherical bacterium, frequently living on the skin or in the nose of a person.

Approximately 20–30% of the general population are "staph carriers". Staphylococcus aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections such as pimples, impetigo (may also be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes), boils, cellulitis folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles (Learn how to get rid of carbuncles), scalded skin syndrome and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and septicemia. Its incidence is from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections.

It's still one of the four most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing postsurgical wound infections. Antibiotics: Staph infection that isn't antibiotic resistant can be treated in about a month (depending on severity) using antibiotics. When worse comes to worst, your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic to get rid of staph infection.

Usually an over-the-counter topical antibiotic like Neosporin will do the trick, but with more serious infections, your doctor is likely to prescribe something stronger. Traditionally, staph infections were treated with an oral antibiotic like penicillin, but because antibiotic-resistant strains are becoming more and more common, doctors have had to resort to stronger antibiotics with a broader spectrum of microbial control. In other words, go see a doctor if you think your impetigo is getting out of control—it could save you a trip to the intensive care unit.

Compress: To help get rid of a minor staph infection, you may want to try a warm compress soaked in vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Vinegar has been shown to have plenty of antimicrobial power, so much so that conscientious janitors are now cleaning public restrooms with it (For other uses of vinegar, see 25 other uses for vinegar). But when you really want to make sure those staph bacteria are gone, nothing beats good old rubbing alcohol.

That's why hospitals have those cans of alcohol-based hand cleaner just laying around the place—it's almost 100% effective at killing bacteria. Washing the Infection: If you've been diagnosed with a staph infection, your doctor will tell you to wash the infected area several times a day. This goes beyond normal daily hygiene, and requires letting the soap and/or alcohol soak into the wound, redressing it afterwards with a loose piece of cotton gauze.

Watchful attentiveness is probably the least toxic, drug-free way to get rid of this illness. Wash with soap and warm water regularly. Treat the infected area(s) with warm compresses soaked in alcohol or vinegar.

Apply topical antibiotics if infection persists. See your family physician if the infection doesn't improve within a few days. Boils and carbuncles seen on your back, face, neck and head should be treated by a medical professional immediately, because there's a chance that the bacteria might spread to your spinal cord or your brain.

It's rare, but it happens.