Staphylococcal Infections

Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” is a bacterium commonly found in the nose or on the skin of a healthy person. Most of the time staph is harmless, but it can cause infection if it enters through a breach in the body’s defenses, such as a cut or other wound in the skin. Staph skin infections can also occur spontaneously in healthy people without any open wound.

Early signs of a staph skin infection include redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and blisters. If staph invades the blood, it can spread to bones, joints, and organs, causing potentially life-threatening conditions. NYU Langone infectious disease doctors are experts at identifying and managing all types of staph infections, and work quickly as a team to prevent complications.