A staph infection is no joke.

Even for an otherwise healthy person, this condition can be fatal. The infection occurs when Staphylococcus aureus (“staf-uh-luh-kok-uhs awr-ee-uhs”) bacteria that commonly live on the skin get into the body. Once there, the bacteria frequently settle in the bloodstream, bones, organs or joints, and can do major damage.

Now, a new study published in the journal Critical Care Medicine suggests that a daily dose of aspirin may provide a boost in fighting staph infections.

The study by Swiss researchers analyzed 13 years of data from people who had staph infections in their blood. The researchers compared those patients who took one low-dose aspirin daily with an equal number of people who did not. Those who did not take aspirin were more than twice as likely to die in a 30-day period. In fact, taking a daily low-dose aspirin, 81-milligrams, was associated with a 42 percent lower risk of death.

The results are intriguing. Does aspirin really help combat staph infection? If so, how?

Researchers say a possible link between aspirin intake and surviving a staph infection needs further examination to determine how the two may be related. One way aspirin might help is by calming inflammation that can impede proper healing.

The study authors also note that previous research indicates that aspirin may inhibit the bacteria’s function. It seems to do so by blocking the bacteria from fully carrying out their genetically coded instructions on how to attack the body.

If aspirin truly is a powerful weapon against staph infection, then that’s a major win for both patients and health care providers.