How you get a staph infection

Staph bacteria are common. About one person in every three carries the bacteria harmlessly on their skin, usually inside their nose and on the surface of their armpits and buttocks.

However, the bacteria can cause problems if they enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cutor graze , burn or insect bite . They can also get into your body via medical equipment, such as urinary catheters , openings in the skin where drips are inserted and feeding tubes.

Staph bacteria are usually spread between people through close skin contact or by sharing contaminated objects, such as towels or toothbrushes. Occasionally, they can be spread in droplets in the coughs and sneezes of someone carrying the bacteria.

Eatingfoodcontaminated with staph bacteriacan give you food poisoning .This normally develops after eating food, usually meat, that hasn't been cooked or stored properly.