Staphylococcus aureus often leads to skin infections, boils, and even more serious problems such as bloodstream infections. It's caused by bacteria that may be hard to completely remove from the body. If the usual treatments like augmentin were ineffective in getting rid of the infection, vancomycin recommended by your friend is worth considering. Vancomycin is an antibiotic usually used as a last resort for persistent staph infections, especially those that do not respond to other antibiotics. When using vancomycin, it is important to follow your doctor's advice on dosage and treatment duration.