Staph skin infections – recurring

Your doctor may advise you to have a bath daily for seven days with an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine. If you don’t have a bath, have a shower and put the antiseptic straight on your skin like soap (undiluted). Leave the antiseptic on your skin (especially under your armpits, breasts, groin and bottom) for at least five minutes before washing off.

Alternatively, your doctor may recommend you have a bleach bath 2 or 3 times for 1 week, by adding household bleach to your bath or tub with warm water. Bleaches come in different strengths. When preparing a bleach bath, it is very important that the bleach is diluted in the correct amount of water. Do not apply undiluted bleach directly to the skin. This can cause severe burns and is very harmful. Household bleach comes in different strengths, Here is guidance on how to prepare a bleach bath.(external link)

Because staph bacteria tend to live in the nose, your doctor may advise you to apply an antibiotic ointment (such as fusidic acid ointment or mupirocin) to your nostrils 3 times a day for 7 days to help clear it up. 

• Use a clean cotton bud for each application.
• Insert just enough so that the tip of the bud goes into the nose – about 1 cm – for each application
• Apply ointment fully around the inside surface of each nostril.

Sometimes nasal ointment and antiseptic baths are not enough to get rid of staph skin infections for good. In such cases your doctor may give you a longer course of antibiotics (sometimes 1 week on, 3 weeks off for up to 6 months). Your doctor will give you clear instructions and a diary to help.

Have everyone in your home do these things:

• Clean scratches, insect bites or other wounds and cover them with a plaster.
• Wash and dry hands well and often, using water and soap or an alcohol-based gel sanitiser. 
• Keep fingernails clean and short.
• Don’t share towels, sheets, soaps, clothing, razors, make-up or other personal items.
• Throw away used razors.
• Change underwear every day.
• Have a bath or shower at least once a day.
• Treat any other skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis or athlete's foot (tinea).
• Make sure towels and clothes are dry before you use them

You should also regularly do these things in your home:

• Wash towels and sheets regularly in hot water and dry them well, or add a capful of bleach to the wash cycle.
• Clean bench tops, doorknobs, bathtubs and toilet seats often.
• Clean all hard surfaces, including bathrooms and floors, with detergent and water.
• Change towels and sheets once a week.
• Regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, mattresses and electric blankets.
• Wash pet bedding regularly, especially dog bedding.
• Wash and dry your child’s sports clothing after each match.