Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus (Gk. staphyle = bunch of grapes; Lat. coccus = spherical bacterium, aureus = golden) or golden staph (pronounced ’staff’) is the most common species of staphylococcus bacteria causing infections in human.
Lab Tests for Staph
Staph Epidemiology
Staph Infections
S.aureus lives as a part of the normal skin flora in the nose or on the skin in 20-30% of healthy people (staph carriers), (1). However, in even slightly injured skin or mucosa, staph may cause styes, pimples, folliculitis, furuncles, boils (Picture 1), swimmer’s ear, sinusitis, epiglotitis, whitlow, breast infection, impetigo, cellulitis, genital infection, scalded skin syndrome or other staph infections. Infections of internal organs include urinary tract infections, arthritis, pneumonia, infection of veins (thrombophlebitis), lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) or lymph vessels (lymphangitis), bone infection (osteomyelitis) (Picture 2), or life threatening sepsis (staph blood invasion), infection of heart valves (endocarditis), meningitis, “flesh eating bacteria” infection (necrotizing fasciitis) and toxic shock syndrome. S.aureus enterotoxins may cause food poisoning.
S.aureus and S.epidermidis are among the most common causes of hospital-acquired infections, like bloodstream infections, infections of surgical wounds or pneumonia (2). Staph may also appear in vascular and urinary catheters, prosthetic joints and heart valves.
Staph skin infection usually appears as a red, warm, painful swelling with a blister, ulcer, or crust, and a drainage (Picture 1). Infection may spread into the deeper tissues, like the bones (Picture 2).
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| Picture 1. A boil on the upper arm |
Picture 2. X-ray of child’s legs: osteomyelitis in shin bones (grey patches) |
