You just saw the redness. Maybe it’s a crusty sore on his arm or a swollen bump that looks way too much like a nasty spider bite. Then the doctor says the word: Staph.
Naturally, your brain goes straight to the scary stuff. You’re wondering, "my husband has a staph infection can i get it?" and honestly, the short answer is yes. But it’s not exactly like catching a cold where he sneezes and suddenly you're sick. Staph is a bit more personal than that. It’s sneaky.
Staphylococcus aureus—the formal name for the most common version—is actually hanging out on about 30% of the population's skin right now. You might even have it on you this second and have zero idea because it’s not doing anything. It’s a "commensal" organism, which is a fancy way of saying it’s a hitchhiker that usually plays nice. The problem starts when that hitchhiker finds a way inside.
If your husband has an active infection, the concentration of those bacteria is much higher. You’re living in close quarters. You share a bed. You share towels. Maybe you share a remote. That proximity matters.
How the Hand-off Happens
Staph doesn't fly through the air. It’s a "contact" traveler. If you touch his infected wound, or even the bandage he just took off, the bacteria can hop onto your skin.
But here is the thing: having the bacteria on your skin doesn't mean you have an infection. Healthy skin is like a suit of armor. It’s incredibly good at keeping Staph out. The danger zone is when you have a "portal of entry." This could be a tiny papercut, a hangnail, a scrape from gardening, or even a microscopic tear from shaving your legs. Once the bacteria get under the skin, they start throwing a party you weren't invited to.
Think about your daily routine. You’re doing laundry. You pick up his gym shirt or the sheets he’s been sweating in. Staph is hardy. It can live on dry surfaces for weeks. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that Staph can survive on polyester for almost 40 days. That’s a long time for a microscopic bug to wait for its moment.
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Is it MRSA or Just "Regular" Staph?
This is where people usually start to panic. You’ve probably heard of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). It’s basically Staph that went to gym, got buff, and decided it didn't care about standard antibiotics like methicillin or penicillin.
If your husband's infection is MRSA, the stakes are a bit higher for you because if you catch it, it's harder to treat. But the way you catch it is exactly the same.
The CDC notes that MRSA is often spread in places where people are close together—dorms, barracks, and definitely households. If he’s been told his infection is resistant, you need to be twice as careful with hygiene. Don't let the "superbug" label paralyze you, though. It still dies with soap and water.
The "Dormant" Factor: You Might Already Have It
Here’s a weird twist. You could "catch" it from him, but not get sick for months. Or you could already be a carrier.
Some people are what doctors call "persistent carriers." The bacteria live in their nose or their armpits indefinitely. When your husband got his infection, it might have been from his own skin flora taking advantage of a moment of weakness in his immune system.
If you are worried about "my husband has a staph infection can i get it," you should know that transmission is common among "skin-to-skin" contacts. In a 2012 study by the University of Chicago Medicine, researchers found that when one person in a household has a Staph infection, the specific strain often spreads to other family members and even the family dog. Yes, Fido can be a reservoir too.
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Real Talk on Prevention
You don't need to move into a hotel. You just need to be tactical.
Wash your hands. Not just a quick rinse. You need to scrub like you're about to go into surgery, especially after helping him change a bandage. Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands instead of the shared hand towel that’s been hanging there since Tuesday.
The Laundry Rule. If it touches his infection, it goes in the "hot" wash. We’re talking 140°F (60°C) or higher. Use the dryer on high heat too. Heat is the enemy of Staph.
Bandage Management. His wound needs to be covered. Always. A dry, clean bandage acts as a cage for the bacteria. If he’s lounging on the sofa with an open sore touching the cushions, he’s essentially "seeding" the fabric with bacteria.
No Sharing. This is the hard part for married couples. Stop sharing razors. Stop sharing towels. Stop sharing bar soap. Switch to a liquid body wash pump for a while so nobody is touching the same "surface" of the soap.
When to See a Doctor Yourself
You need to keep a literal eye on your own skin. Staph infections usually start out looking like a small red bump, a pimple, or a boil.
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- Is it painful to the touch?
- Is it red and getting bigger?
- Does it feel warm?
- Are you running a fever?
If you see a red streak coming away from a sore, that’s an emergency. It means the infection might be moving into your lymph system. Don't wait.
Often, a doctor will just give you a topical cream like Mupirocin if it’s caught early. If it’s deeper, you might need oral antibiotics. Whatever you do, do not try to pop it. "Home surgery" is the fastest way to turn a minor skin infection into a systemic blood infection (sepsis). Staph bacteria love it when you create a deep, pressurized hole for them to dive into.
The Mental Toll of a "Staph House"
It’s exhausting. You feel like you’re living in a biohazard zone. You’re bleaching the doorknobs and wondering if every itch is the start of a boil.
Honestly, it’s okay to be a little germaphobic for a week or two. Staph is opportunistic. It waits for you to get tired and stop washing your hands. If your husband is on antibiotics, he's usually much less contagious after 24 to 48 hours of treatment, but that doesn't mean the bacteria are gone from the house.
[Image showing the proper way to bandage a skin wound]
Actionable Steps to Protect Yourself Right Now
If your husband is currently dealing with this, here is your immediate checklist. No fluff, just things that actually lower the bacterial load in your home:
- De-colonize the nose. Staph loves the nostrils. Some doctors recommend everyone in the house use a tiny bit of antibiotic ointment or even just a salt-water nasal rinse to keep the "reservoir" low. Ask your GP before doing this.
- Shower, don't bath. Sitting in a bath is basically sitting in a bacterial soup. If he has an infection, have him shower so the runoff goes straight down the drain.
- Bleach the high-traffic spots. Remote controls, light switches, and fridge handles. These are the "fomites"—inanimate objects that bridge the gap between his hand and yours.
- Use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens). This is the pink soap surgeons use. You can buy it at most drugstores. If you feel like you've been heavily exposed, washing with this can significantly drop the amount of Staph on your skin. Just don't use it on your face or ears—it can be harsh.
- Check the pets. If the infection keeps bouncing back between the two of you, the dog might be the silent carrier. Talk to your vet about "Staph pyoderma" in pets.
The reality is that "my husband has a staph infection can i get it" is a valid concern, but it's not a guarantee. Most healthy adults with intact skin and good hygiene habits will be perfectly fine. Just stay vigilant, keep his wounds covered, and keep the laundry cycle running hot. You’ve got this.
Primary Sources and References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Staphylococcal Food Poisoning and Skin Infections
- Journal of Clinical Microbiology - Survival of Enterococci and Staphylococci on Hospital Fabrics
- Mayo Clinic - Staph infections: Symptoms and Causes
- University of Chicago Medicine - Household Transmission of MRSA Study