Symptoms

Staph infection can occur nearly anywhere in the body, and can range from a minor infection to a life threatening illness. Listed below are some of the more commonly seen staph infections:

Skin and soft tissue infections
On the skin, staph infection usually results in a localized area of pus in a boil, abscess, or pimple. The area may appear red, swollen, or warm and may be painful to the touch. Skin infections may also have a blistered or crusted appearance. They may be localized to one small area, or become widespread as is possible with infections like impetigo or cellulitis.

Bacteremia
This type of infection occurs when staph bacteria enter the blood stream, and may travel to many parts of the body. This includes, but is not limited to, an individual’s heart (endocarditis), lungs (pneumonia), bone (osteomyelitis) or to a surgically implanted device like a prosthetic joint or pacemaker. A persistent fever is common with this type of infection, and pain or swelling in the infected area is likely.

Septic arthritis
In this infection, staph bacteria target joints, which may lead to joint swelling, severe pain, fever and chills.