How serious is staph and MRSA infections?
Most staph infections are minor skin infections that can be treated with antibiotics. Some common diagnoses associated with staph infections include boils, impetigo, carbuncles, cellulitis, or abscesses. Sometimes, staph infections can be more serious leading to bacteremia, pneumonia, or even death. But these complications are usually associated with other risk factors such as recent hospitalization, surgery, or underlying medical conditions. Invasive disease is not common in otherwise healthy people. Can staph be transmitted to others? The most common way staph infections are transmitted to others is through direct skin-to-skin contact. Activities where there is frequent contact with others (such as playing football or living in crowded conditions) may increase the chances of acquiring a staph infection. Shared environmental surfaces such as athletic equipment or tabletops may play a minor role in transmission, but is not a significant factor. Routine cleaning and sanitation of shared
