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Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a type of germ commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or result in relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections don't always remain skin-deep. In some circumstances, they may invade your bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs or heart.

Severe staph infections usually occur in people who are already hospitalized or who have a chronic illness or weakened immune system. But it is possible for otherwise healthy people to develop life-threatening staph infections.

Staph infections can range from minor skin problems to endocarditis, a life-threatening inflammation of your heart valve lining. As a result, signs and symptoms of staph infections vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

Skin infections
Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

• Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil, a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen. If a boil breaks open, it may drain pus, blood or an amber-colored liquid. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.
• Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can occur in all ages, but it is most common in young children and infants. The types of impetigo caused by staph bacteria usually feature large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust. These sores occur most commonly around the nose and mouth.
• Cellulitis. This type of infection causes the skin to look red and swollen, to the point that the hair follicles create dimples similar to the appearance of an orange peel. Cellulitis occurs most often in the lower legs and feet of older persons.
• Scalded skin syndrome. Affecting mostly newborns, this condition features fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off — leaving a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Food poisoning
Signs and symptoms of staph-related food poisoning usually come on quickly — as soon as one to six hours after you've eaten contaminated food. The illness often leaves just as suddenly as it came, and most people recover in a day or two, though the effects can be more serious and longer lasting in children and older adults. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Bacteremia
Also known as blood poisoning, bacteremia occurs when staph bacteria enter a person's bloodstream. A persistent fever is one sign of bacteremia. The bacteria can travel to locations deep within your body, to produce infections affecting:

• Internal organs, such as your heart (endocarditis) or lungs (pneumonia)
• Surgically implanted devices, such as artificial joints or cardiac pacemakers

Toxic shock syndrome
This life-threatening condition has been linked to the use of certain types of tampons and, less often, to skin wounds and surgery. It usually develops suddenly, with:

• High fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• A rash on your palms and soles that resembles sunburn
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Seizures
• Headache

Septic arthritis
Septic arthritis is often caused by a staph infection. The bacteria usually target the knees, but other joints can be affected, including your ankle, hip, wrist, elbow or shoulder. Symptoms may include:

• Joint swelling
• Severe pain in the affected joint
• Fever
• Shaking chills

When to see a doctor
Go to the doctor if you or your child has:

• An area of red, irritated or painful skin
• Pus-filled blisters
• Fever

You may also want to consult your doctor if:

• Skin infections are being passed from one family member to another
• Two or more family members have skin infections at the same time

Many people carry staph bacteria and never develop staph infections. If you have a staph infection, there's a good chance that it stemmed from bacteria you've been carrying around for some time.

These bacteria also can be transmitted from person to person. Because staph bacteria are so hardy, they can live on inanimate objects like pillowcases or towels long enough to transfer to the next person who touches them.

Staph bacteria are able to survive:

• Drying
• Extremes of temperature
• High levels of salt

Even cooking won't kill the toxins produced by staph bacteria, which is why they can cause food-borne illness.

A variety of factors — ranging from the status of your immune system to the types of sports you play — can increase your risk of developing staph infections.

Current or recent hospitalization
Despite vigorous attempts to eradicate them, staph bacteria remain widespread in hospitals, where they attack the most vulnerable, including people with:

• Weakened immune systems
• Burns
• Surgical wounds
• Serious underlying health problems, such as diabetes

Invasive devices
Staph bacteria can travel along the medical tubing that connects the outside world with your internal organs. Examples include:

• Dialysis
• Urinary catheters
• Feeding tubes
• Breathing intubation
• Intravascular catheters

Contact sports
Staph bacteria can spread easily through cuts, abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Amateur and professional athletes have spread staph infections by sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.

If staph bacteria invade your bloodstream, you may develop a type of infection that affects your entire body. Called sepsis, this infection can lead to septic shock — a life-threatening episode of extremely low blood pressure.

While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a specialist, depending on which of your organ systems is affected by the infection. For example, a dermatologist specializes in skin conditions, while a cardiologist treats heart disorders.

What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:

• Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
• Information about medical problems you've had
• Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
• All the medications and dietary supplements you take
• Questions you want to ask the doctor

What to expect from your doctor
During your physical exam, your doctor will closely examine any skin lesions you may have. He or she might take a sample of tissue or liquid from the lesions for testing.

Most often, doctors diagnose staph infections by checking a tissue sample or nasal secretions for signs of the bacteria.

Staph bacteria are very adaptable, and some varieties have become resistant to one or more antibiotics. For example, fewer than 10 percent of today's staph infections can be cured with penicillin. Up to half of the staph bacteria found in hospitals are resistant to methicillin, another common antibiotic.

When staph bacteria become resistant to methicillin, they also become resistant to a number of other common antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has led to the use of stronger and more toxic antibiotics, such as vancomycin, but some strains of staph bacteria have become resistant to vancomycin, too.

Your doctor may want to identify what type of staph bacteria is behind your infection, to help choose the antibiotic that will work best.

These common-sense precautions can help lower your risk of developing staph infections:

• Wash your hands. Careful hand washing is your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 to 30 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. If your hands aren't visibly dirty, you can use a hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol. These sanitizers are convenient and may actually kill more germs than soap and water do.
• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains staph bacteria, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
• Reduce tampon risks. You can reduce your chances of getting toxic shock syndrome by changing your tampon frequently, at least every four to eight hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can, and try to alternate using tampons and sanitary napkins whenever possible.
• Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Staph infections can spread on objects, as well as from person to person. If you have a cut or sore, wash your towels and linens using detergent and hot water with bleach, and dry them in a hot dryer.