Different Types of Staph Infections
Read to find out more about staph infections

What is Staphylococcus?
Staph bacteria, otherwise known as Staphylococcus bacteria, are a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases. Staph bacteria can cause illness directly by infection or indirectly through the toxins they produce that are responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. In teens, most staph infections are minor skin infections. People with skin problems like burns or eczema may be more likely to get staph skin infections.
Although people can also get staph infections from contaminated objects, staph bacteria are most often spread through skin-to-skin contact. The bacteria can be spread from one area of the body to another if someone touches the infected area and can also be spread from person to person among those who live close together in group situations (such as in college dorms). Usually this happens when people with skin infections share things like bed linens, towels, or clothing. Warm, humid environments can contribute to staph infections as well.
Although it happens rarely, staph infections can develop into more serious complications. When the bacteria move from a break in the skin into the bloodstream, this can lead to infections in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones, joints, heart, blood, and central nervous system.
Staph infections in other parts of the body are less common than staph skin infections and typically occur in people whose immune systems have been weakened by disease. Patients undergoing surgery may also develop more serious types of staph infections. However, a hospital staff takes many precautions to avoid infection in someone having surgery. Precautions may include antibiotics, sterile equipment, and other safety measures.
Signs of a Staph Skin Infection
Staph skin infections show up in lots of different ways. Some of the more common types of staph infections you can get include the following:
• Folliculitis - this is an infection of the hair follicles where tiny white-headed pimples appear at the base of hair shafts, sometimes with a small red area around each pimple.
• furuncle  - this is a swollen, red, painful lump in the skin, usually due to an infected hair follicle. The lump usually fills with pus, growing larger and more painful until it ruptures and drains.
• Impetigo – this is a superficial skin infection that mostly happens in young children, but it can sometimes affect teens and adults. This is a tender, red bump that turns into a pimple or a blister.
• Cellulitis – this is an infection that begins as a small area of redness, pain, swelling, and warmth on the skin. This may lead to fever and illness.
• hordeolum - this is a staph infection in the eyelid which develops when glands connected to the base of the eyelash become obstructed. Typically the infection will show up as a red, warm, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful swelling near the edge of the eyelid.