Staphylococcus spp.
Lisa A. Spacek, M.D., Ph.D.
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROBIOLOGY
- Staphylococcus genus (Staph): Gram-positive beta-hemolytic bacteria; occur singly, in pairs, short chains, and clusters (from Greek staphylé, "bunch of grapes").
- Ubiquitous colonizers of skin and mucous membranes, esp anterior nares.
- S. aureus (SA) is coagulase positive.
- Coagulase-negative Staph (CoNS) >30 species, 15 of which are human pathogens.
- S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus (novobiocin resistant), S. haemolyticus, S. lugdunensis and S. schleiferi most common.
- SA produces several toxins
- Membrane-damaging toxins
- Superantigens, i.e., toxic shock syndrome toxin [TSST] and enterotoxins[9]
- Enzymes, i.e., exfoliative toxins - staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome
- Staph grow rapidly on blood agar and other non-selective media, can survive harsh environmental conditions (high-salt media), and are relatively heat-resistant.
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA): >80% of CoNS. Global antimicrobial surveillance trends show decline in prevalence of MRSA among bloodstream infections since 2009.[14]
- Vancomycin-intermediate resistance (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant strains are recognized.[8]
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