Staphylococcus aureus (S. arueus) is a dangerous bacterium; infections due to this organism are oftentimes called staph infections.
Staphylococcus aureus is round in shape and tends to grow in grape-like clusters. In Greek the word staphylé means "grape-like cluster." Coccus means "round." This bacterium also can produce pigments that will give it a golden color, hence the name aureus, meaning "golden like the sun."
S. arueus can grow with or without oxygen and can be found in our noses, mouths, intestines and on our skin. It can survive for long periods of time (weeks) on various surfaces (clothing, desktops, etc). It is a transient colonizer (short-term resident) of the moist regions of the skin and is present on 25-50% of humans.
Higher rates of carriage are present in young children, intravenous drug users, insulin-dependent diabetics, patients with skin conditions, patients with indwelling intravenous catheters and health-care workers.
Diseases Associated with S. aureus
This bacterium is usually spread from person to person by direct contact; however, a person can be colonized (the bacterium starts living on your person without causing any disease) by touching something contaminated with S. aureus. It can cause disease in all age groups and can produce a wide variety of both pus-producing and non-pus-producing diseases:
S. aureus infections can still be treated with antibiotics. In some cases the organism must be removed from the wound site to clear the infection. If foreign material (suture, staple, dirt, bullet, intravenous line, etc.) is present in the wound this bacteria will grow on and around the material.
Staphylococcus aureus is round in shape and tends to grow in grape-like clusters. In Greek the word staphylé means "grape-like cluster." Coccus means "round." This bacterium also can produce pigments that will give it a golden color, hence the name aureus, meaning "golden like the sun."
S. arueus can grow with or without oxygen and can be found in our noses, mouths, intestines and on our skin. It can survive for long periods of time (weeks) on various surfaces (clothing, desktops, etc). It is a transient colonizer (short-term resident) of the moist regions of the skin and is present on 25-50% of humans.
Higher rates of carriage are present in young children, intravenous drug users, insulin-dependent diabetics, patients with skin conditions, patients with indwelling intravenous catheters and health-care workers.
Diseases Associated with S. aureus
This bacterium is usually spread from person to person by direct contact; however, a person can be colonized (the bacterium starts living on your person without causing any disease) by touching something contaminated with S. aureus. It can cause disease in all age groups and can produce a wide variety of both pus-producing and non-pus-producing diseases:
- impetigo - infection of the skin
- folliculitis - infection of the hair follicle
- furuncle (boil) - infections of the hair follicle and the skin surrounding the hair follicle
- carbuncle - an accumulation of several boils
- hidradenitis - infection of certain glands in the armpit and genital regions
- mastitis - infection of the breast
- cellulitis - infection of the skin and tissue under the skin
- wound infections - common after surgery, trauma
- necrotizing fasciitis - infection of the tissue around muscles (very damaging and potentially lethal)
- pyomyositis - infection of the muscle (rare in industrialized countries; more common in the tropics)
- bacteremia - bloodstream infections
- endocarditis - infection of the heart valves
- osteomyelitis - infection of the bone and muscles around the bone
- septic arthritis - infection of the joints
- pneumonia - infection of the lungs
- food poisoning - vomiting and diarrhea; one of the most common causes
- scalded skin syndrome - generalized peeling of the skin usually seen in infants and children
- toxic shock syndrome - fever, low-blood pressure, damage to organs, skin peeling; can be lethal
S. aureus infections can still be treated with antibiotics. In some cases the organism must be removed from the wound site to clear the infection. If foreign material (suture, staple, dirt, bullet, intravenous line, etc.) is present in the wound this bacteria will grow on and around the material.
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