How to Treat a Staff Infection
The bacteria staphylococcus can infect many different tissues of the body. The infections lead to different types of illnesses and diseases, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Treating a staph infection will sometimes require help from a doctor and/or prescription medicines
Instructions
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Identify what type of staph infection you have. Staph infections that affect the skin are the most common. A serious staphylococcus infection can enter the bloodstream and affect the lungs, heart, and bones. A doctor can perform a culture to determine what strain of bacteria has infected you.
Toxic shock syndrome is a different form of staph infection brought on by toxic bacteria growing in conditions where there is little or no oxygen. Signs of TSS are high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, low blood pressure and a rash.
Staphylococcal food poisoning attacks the digestive systems of patients who have eaten contaminated food. Symptoms of this infection include vomiting, nausea, dehydration and diarrhea.
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You can choose to treat mild infections yourself, or get help from a medical specialist. Mild skin infections may clear up without treatment. Staphylococcal food poisoning, for instance, will last one to three days until it resolves on its own.
However, burn victims and patients with severe skin infections should see a doctor. The staphylococcus infection can spread to the bloodstream, which can lead to inflammation, shock, circulatory problems, pneumonia, heart failure or death. Toxic shock syndrome patients should seek medical help immediately. -
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Buy a triple-antibiotic ointment if you have chosen to treat the skin staph infection by yourself. The ointment with help to speed up recovery. This is a nonprescription medication that is applied directly to the infection site.
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce pain until the infection has cleared. A heating pad can also help relieve pain to the infection site.
Staphylococcal food poisoning will clear on its own, but ginger ale and over-the-counter digestive aids might help.If you have chosen to see a doctor for a serious skin infection, you may be given oral antibiotics, which you must take as directed. More serious skin and internal infections may require intravenous antibiotics.
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Keep the infected area clean and covered while treating it so you do not spread it to other areas of your body, or to other people. Do not share towels, sheets, or clothing with friends or family until after the infection has cleared.
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Tips & Warnings
If the staph infection has caused a blister, draining the pus can help relieve pain and speed up the recovery process.
MRSA (methicillin resistant taphylococcus aureus) is resistant to most types of antibiotics. Serious infections can be life threatening. A patient with MRSA should be monitored, and all of his clothing, towels and sheets should be properly cleaned before anyone else uses them.
