Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria that can cause skin infections and other problems within the body. This infection can look like a single red bump that resembles a pimple, pustule, or boil. In many cases, antibiotics can be used to treat this type of infection; however, they are not always required.
This bacterium is contagious and can be transmitted by coming into direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected or by touching a contaminated surface. Once a person has been infected with Staphylococcus, it takes between 1 and 10 days, on average, for symptoms to appear.
(To learn more about infection with Staphylococcus bacteria, click Staph Infection. This article takes a closer look at who this condition affects, risk factors, other symptoms, and more.)