Key points
- Staph (Staphylococcus) is a bacteria that lives on the skin of many healthy people.
- The most common type of staph is Staphylococcus aureus.
- It can cause an infection if it gets inside the body through the skin, such as via an open wound.
- Staph is a common cause of skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis.
- Children with other medical conditions or compromised immune systems (immunosuppressed) can get more serious staph infections.
- Staph infections usually need treatment with antibiotics. Your child should always finish the prescribed course of antibiotics.
- Most strains of staph can be treated with common antibiotics. Some strains are resistant and need different antibiotics.
- Good hygiene is an important way to prevent staph infections.
What is staph?
Staphylococcus or ‘staph’ is a group of bacteria that commonly lives on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. The most common strain of staph is Staphylococcus
aureus – often called ‘golden staph’ after the colour of pus from an infection.
What is a staph infection?
If staph bacteria get into the body, they can cause an infection. This can happen through an open wound, such as a bite, burn,
cut, or skin
problem like eczema or acne.
Staph can be a problem in sick patients in hospital who have surgical wounds and tubes entering their bodies. This is because their bodies have more openings for the bacteria to enter.
What is an MRSA infection?
Some strains of staph bacteria have built up resistance to antibiotics. ‘Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus’ or MRSA refers to a resistant strain of staph which does not respond to common antibiotics, often making it harder to treat.
In Australia, the rates of MRSA are low – especially in the community. Certain people are at greater risk of MRSA infections, such as people who live in crowded conditions with limited access to water and sanitation, aged care residents, and those who
often access health care services.
The symptoms of regular staph infections and MRSA are often the same. For common infections outside the hospital setting, MRSA infection is not more severe. People already in hospital for another condition may need special care if they develop an MRSA
infection.
Doctors may suspect MRSA if the infection does not get better with treatment, it comes back again, or the person is in a population at higher risk of MRSA. In these cases, a swab to test the bacteria for resistance to antibiotics can help. If they find
MRSA, they will prescribe different antibiotics.
There are still effective antibiotics for almost all strains of MRSA.
Signs and symptoms of a staph infection
Most staph infections involve the skin, but the signs and symptoms often vary.
Some common skin infections that staph may cause include:
- Impetigo (school sores): Open weeping sores on the skin
- Cellulitis: Swollen and painful area of skin – often warm and red
- Abscess: Sore, round ball of pus (yellow milky fluid) under the skin, with surrounding redness
- Can occur at the same time as, or due to, cellulitis.
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Figure one: Two images of children with impetigo – one with impetigo around the mouth (perioral impetigo) and one with impetigo on the leg. Images have been reproduced with permission from ©DermNet 2025.
When staph bacteria travel to other parts of the body, it can lead to more serious but less common infections, such as:
Some staph infections can make your child feel unwell with signs and symptoms such as tiredness and fever (temperature of 38°C or more).
In rare cases, a staph infection can lead to a condition called scalded skin syndrome. This is when skin affected by the infection looks red, like a burn, and may peel off in sheets when touched.
How to care for staph infections
See a doctor
Take your child to see a doctor or health professional if you think they have a staph infection. They will usually need antibiotics – often taken orally (by mouth). If your child is very unwell, they may be admitted to hospital to receive their antibiotic
through a drip into a vein (intravenous or IV therapy).
Some staph infections need different treatment. For example, an abscess (infected build-up of pus under the skin) often has to be drained before it will heal.
Care at home
There are some things you can do to make your child more comfortable while their staph infection is healing.
- Make sure your child gets a lot of rest.
- Control your child’s pain with pain-relief medicine such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
- Try to stop your child from touching any open and weeping wounds.
- You may need to cover their wounds with a dressing.
- Good hygiene is essential when caring for a child with a staph infection.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after touching their wounds, and teach your child to do the same.
- If a doctor prescribes your child antibiotics, they should always finish taking the prescribed course – even if they start feeling better early.
- Antibiotics usually take a few days to work. Take them back to their doctor if their infection does not start to get better after two to three days.
How to avoid staph infections
- Maintaining the skin’s natural barrier is the key to preventing staph infections.
- If your child has a condition that causes dry, itchy, cracked, or open skin, make sure you speak with a doctor and follow recommended treatments.
- Wash all open wounds, such as cuts or grazes, with clean water and keep them covered to reduce the risk of bacteria getting in.
- Teach your child to wash their hands with warm water and soap.
- Cut and file your child’s fingernails regularly to reduce scratching which may lead to skin breaks.
- Bleach baths can help reduce the risk of a staph infection coming back in children who are prone to skin infections.
When to get help
Call an ambulance (000) if:
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- your child seems very unwell and is struggling to breathe or very pale.
- you cannot wake your child.
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Go to a hospital if:
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- your child’s infection is not starting to get better after two to three days of antibiotics.
- your child’s infection is getting worse – for example, if the infection looks like it is spreading, they are in more pain, or their fevers (temperature of 38°C or more) are increasing.
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See a doctor or health professional if:
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- your child does not get better after finishing a course of antibiotics.
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Look after your child at home if:
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- they seem to get better with antibiotics.
- their pain is managed well with pain-relief medicine.
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Common questions about staph infections
What is the difference between a regular staph infection and MRSA?
The symptoms of regular staph infections and MRSA are often the same. However, MRSA usually needs different antibiotics. If your child has finished a course of antibiotics and their infection has not improved, they may have MRSA. A doctor may
swab the infection to figure out the exact strain of bacteria causing the problem.
Are children more likely to get staph infections than adults?
Children are more likely to get staph infections than adults because they tend to get more cuts and scrapes, creating more opportunities for bacteria to get into the body. Their immune systems are also less developed. This means their bodies have
to work harder to fight infections.
Is MRSA contagious?
All staph infections can be contagious, including MRSA. They can spread through close skin-to-skin contact or via shared objects like toys; however, the bacteria only live on objects for about 24 hours. You cannot catch MRSA just by being in the
same room as an infected person.
My child keeps getting staph infections. What can I do?
The first step to reducing the number of staph infections your child gets is to improve the health of their skin. Dry, cracked and itchy skin allows bacteria to enter the body, leading to infection. This means conditions such as eczema increase
the risk of infection. If your child gets a cut or scratch, clean it straight away.
Your child’s doctor may also prescribe antibiotic cream for use alongside an antiseptic body wash. This aims to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin – especially in the nostrils and around the groin – to lower the chance of further infections.
Bleach baths can also reduce the risk of a staph infection coming back.
How long do staph infections usually take to heal?
Recovery time from staph infections depends on your child’s overall health and the type of infection. For example, skin infections tend to heal within a week or so, while more serious bone or joint infections can take much longer. It is important
to speak with your child’s doctor about when you should expect them to improve.
How important is hygiene in stopping the spread of staph?
When someone in your household has a staph infection, it is important to practice good hygiene to limit the spread. For example, wash towels regularly in hot water, and make sure you and your child wash your hands regularly with soap – especially
after touching infected skin.
Why do I need to complete the antibiotics if my child's infection is all better?
A course of antibiotics for staph infections can vary from seven days or sometimes even longer, depending on the type. It is important to follow the advice of your child’s doctor and make sure they finish the recommended course for their infection.
Can my child go to childcare or school while they have a staph infection?
It is generally okay for your child to go to childcare or school with a staph infection if they seem otherwise well and any infected wounds are covered – for example, with dressings. The exception to this is impetigo. If your child has impetigo,
they should not go to childcare or school until they have recovered and their sores have dried up.
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department, with input from the Infectious Diseases department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed July 2026
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.