Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that often lives harmlessly on the skin and causes most staphylococcal infections, from superficial skin conditions to serious infections of the blood, bones, heart valves and lungs. Anyone can be infected; the bacteria spread through close skin contact and shared towels, and enter through cuts or wounds, with increased risk in diabetes, weakened immunity, surgery, hospital stays, catheters, implanted devices, burns and dialysis. Skin infection is the commonest form and appears as painful red lumps, boils, abscesses, cellulitis or crusted sores; bloodstream infection with sepsis, endocarditis, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome are less common. Doctors often recognise skin infection by its appearance, using cultures of scrapings, tissue or swabs, and imaging, for other types. Antibiotics are the treatment, given as creams, tablets or intravenous medicines, with drainage of abscesses or surgery for bone infection; methicillin-resistant strains withstand many antibiotics, but some remain effective.

Seek urgent care for a high fever with a stiff neck, rash, confusion, difficulty breathing, or fever after travel to a malaria area. See a doctor when a fever lasts more than three days, when symptoms return after treatment, or when you may have been exposed to an infection that needs testing. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.