How to Get Rid of a Staph Infection

The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can be found on the skin and in the nose and throat. If the bacteria moves into the body and invades the bloodstream, heart, lungs or urinary tact it can be deadly. At one time a staph infection was associated with a trip to the hospital. Today the infection is showing up in people who have not been to the hospital. Yet, a greater concern is the fact that the bacteria is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize there may be a problem. Pay attention to any slight skin problems, such as insect bites, scrapes, cuts and blemishes. See your doctor immediately if the area is inflamed, is not healing normally or appears to have an infection.

• 2

  React quickly. According to the Mayo Clinic, staph infection caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA can progress quickly, causing deaths in severe cases before traditional lab testing is completed. Quicker and more expensive tests are available to determine the strain of staph infection.

• 3

  Identify the bacteria. To properly cure the staph infection the strain of bacteria needs to be identified. According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of all staph causing bacteria is resistant to penicillin.

• 4

  Take the correct antibiotic for the strain of staph infection. Because staph becomes resistant over time to antibiotics, doctors often try to limit the use of antibiotics, using them only when seriously necessary.