Q: Is there any vaccine available to prevent staphylococcal bacterial infections? Is it advisable to take antibiotics as a preventive measure? Who are at risk of getting these infections? How can they be prevented?

A:Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent staphylococcal infections. Preventive use of systemic antibiotics is not recommended. The best way for prevention is to keep skin hygiene and a nasal carrier in the family may require treatment (but it may not be worth screening all family members for nasal carriage of the organism unless someone is especially predisposed to develop recurrent staphylococcal infection).