What are staph infections?
A person with a staph infection has an infection that is caused by the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. Staph is a common cause of skin infections because it is normally present on the surface of the skin. However, Staphylococcus aureus can infect the lungs, skin, bone, and other organs in the body. A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by staph bacteria that are resistant to a powerful form of penicillin, called methicillin. MRSA infections require treatment with a small group of very powerful antibiotics. About 1 out of 1300 people suffer MRSA infections each year in the US.

What are the symptoms of staph infections?
The symptoms of a staph infection depend on the location of the infection. Lung infections cause bacterial pneumonia symptoms, skin infections cause cellulitis symptoms, bone infections cause osteomyelitis symptoms, joint infections cause septic arthritis symptoms, blood infections cause sepsis symptoms, and heart valve infections cause bacterial endocarditis symptoms.

How does the doctor treat staph infections?
Treatment for a staph infection includes antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and fever. Treatment for a staph infection may be difficult because the bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics.