Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as staph, is a bacterium that frequently lives harmlessly on the skin or in the nose of healthy individuals. When staph bacteria breach the skin barrier through a cut, scrape, or hair follicle, they can cause a range of infections, from minor skin issues to severe, life-threatening conditions. A common manifestation is a skin abscess or boil, which is a painful, pus-filled lump. Physical manipulation, such as squeezing or lancing, is strongly discouraged due to the health risks it presents. The correct management of a suspected staph infection requires understanding these risks and knowing when to seek professional medical intervention.
Dangers of Self-Draining
Attempting to squeeze or pop a boil or abscess can significantly worsen the infection. The physical pressure applied during self-draining can push the bacterial matter and pus deeper into the surrounding tissue and underlying layers of the skin. This forceful action compromises the body’s natural containment of the infection, which can lead to a more serious condition called cellulitis.
Cellulitis is a painful infection of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue, causing redness, warmth, and swelling that can spread rapidly. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia or blood poisoning. Once in the bloodstream, the infection can travel to distant organs, causing life-threatening conditions like sepsis, which is the body’s overwhelming response to infection, or even endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves.
This risk is particularly serious when dealing with antibiotic-resistant strains, such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a form of staph difficult to treat with common antibiotics; forcing it into deeper tissue complicates treatment and increases the chance of systemic spread. Improper draining can also cause the infection to spread across the skin to other hair follicles, leading to recurrent or multiple lesions.
Recognizing Staph and Other Skin Infections
Staph infections on the skin appear as boils or abscesses, which are tender, red, and painful lumps that form under the skin. These lesions often begin as small, red bumps that rapidly increase in size and become filled with pus. The area will feel warm to the touch and can sometimes be mistaken for a spider bite due to its initial appearance.
Other manifestations of staph infection include folliculitis, which is the inflammation of hair follicles that looks like small, pus-filled pimples. Another element is impetigo, which appears as fluid-filled blisters that eventually rupture and form a yellowish crust. If the skin lesion is accompanied by a fever, chills, or red streaks extending away from the infection site, it indicates the bacteria is spreading into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and requires immediate medical attention. Even without systemic symptoms, a lesion that is rapidly growing, very painful, or located on the face, particularly near the nose or upper lip, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
When to Seek Professional Treatment
If a painful, pus-filled lump appears on the skin and does not begin to resolve on its own within a few days, professional medical treatment is the safest course of action. Healthcare providers can perform a sterile, controlled procedure called Incision and Drainage (I&D) to safely remove the infectious material. This procedure involves numbing the area, making a small incision with a sterile instrument, and gently draining the pus without pushing the bacteria deeper into the tissue.
Following the drainage, the physician will clean the cavity and may pack it with gauze to ensure continuous drainage and healing from the bottom up. A sample of the pus is often sent to a laboratory for a culture and sensitivity test. This test identifies the specific strain of Staphylococcus aureus and determines which antibiotics will be most effective, especially if a resistant strain like MRSA is present.
Antibiotics may be prescribed, particularly if the infection is extensive, shows signs of cellulitis, or if the patient has a weakened immune system. It is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed, even if symptoms improve quickly. Stopping medication prematurely allows the strongest, most resistant bacteria to survive, leading to a recurrence or the development of further antibiotic resistance.
Preventing Future Infections
Preventing staph infections centers on consistent hygiene practices, as the bacteria are commonly carried on the skin and in the nasal passages. Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the primary measure to reduce the spread of staph bacteria. If soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be used.
Breaks in the skin, such as cuts or scrapes, should be promptly cleaned with soap and water and kept covered with a clean, dry bandage until they are fully healed. Staph spreads easily through contaminated objects, so personal items should not be shared:
- Towels
- Washcloths
- Razors
- Athletic equipment
For individuals prone to recurrent infections, a healthcare provider may recommend specific decolonization strategies, such as using antiseptic body washes or topical nasal antibiotics for a short period.