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Treatment of a staph infection depends on the type of staph bacteria involved, the illness caused, its location and severity. Antibiotics may be used to kill bacteria, although some bacteria are more sensitive to antibiotic treatment than others. The usefulness of certain types of antibiotics is limited by antibiotic resistance developed by some staph bacteria.

To slow the development of germ resistance, antibiotics may not be prescribed for minor staph infections such as pimples and boils. Warm compresses on affected areas may help pus to be released and the infection to clear. Boils should never be squeezed because this can spread infection. Abscesses are likely to be drained by a physician and allowed to heal. Without proper measures, draining abscesses can spread the bacteria, so it is recommended that the procedure be performed only by a health professional.

Cases of foodborne illness (food poisoning) usually resolve on their own, without treatment, within a day or two. Patients with weakened immune systems or those who become severely dehydrated may require intravenous fluids administered in a hospital.

More serious cases of staph infection may require treatment with oral or intravenous antibiotics. Patients should follow physician instructions regarding their medications. It is especially important to complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed, even if that means continuing to take the medication after a patient’s condition improves. Patients with serious staph infections may need to be hospitalized.

Without treatment, the infection may spread and, in some cases, death can result. In addition to antibiotics, patients who were infected during the installation of a foreign object into the body (e.g., heart valves, prosthetic joints) may require its removal for treatment of the staph infection to be effective.

At one time, drug-resistant staph bacteria were seldom a problem outside of hospitals. In recent years, drug-resistant staph bacteria have been community-acquired as well. Most staph bacteria now produce an enzyme called penicillinase, which makes them resistant to many forms of penicillin and related drugs. Because of this, new antibiotics have been developed and prescribed, but the bacteria are showing increased resistance to these medications as well. This includes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and strains of staph bacteria resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.

A patient’s progress will be monitored during treatment. If no sign of improvement is seen, a physician may conclude the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotics being used, and other types of antibiotics may be prescribed. If the infection was contracted in a hospital setting, patients with a drug-resistant staph infection may be isolated to prevent the spread of infection. In addition, some staph infections may recur and require additional antibiotic treatment.

Patients with toxic shock syndrome and foodborne illness may also require intravenous fluid replacement to combat dehydration and help prevent shock.