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Staph aureus are
normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third
of the population. They are also present in soil, animals and
have been existing in the environment for centuries. If you
have staphylococcus on your skin or in your nose but aren't
sick, you are said to be "colonized" but not infected. Healthy
people can be colonized and have no ill effects. However, they
can pass the germ to others.
Staphylococcus bacteria are generally harmless unless they
enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then
they often cause only minor skin problems in healthy people.
However, staph infections used to cause serious illness
in older people who have weakened immune systems, usually in
hospitals and long term care facilities.
Staphylococcus
aureus is the major bacterial cause of skin, soft tissue
and bone infections, and one of the commonest causes of
healthcare-associated bacteraemia. About one-quarter of
healthy people carry one or more strains asymptomatically
at any given time and infections are commonly caused by
the patient’s colonizing strain.
Staph aureus acquired during exposure to hospitals and other
healthcare facilities, caused a variety of serious healthcare
associated infections. Common infections you are familiar
with are post-operative wound infections, infected cuts and bruises,
impetigo producing straw coloured secretions and pus. This was
treated with flucloxacilin / Methicilline or local antiseptic
creams.
Antibiotics
and surgical drainage are the basis of treatment of
staphylococcal infections, but the emergence of multiple
resistance to
isoxazoyl penicillin such as methicillin, oxacillin and
flucloxacillin. MRSA are cross-resistant to all currently
licensed β-lactam antibiotics.
and other agents
has compromised therapy.
Symposium Index
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THE MANY FACES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS
AUREUS INFECTION:
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CONTAINING METHICILLIN-RESISTANT S AUREUS:
Surveillance, control, and treatment methods by Andrew E.
Simor, MD
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HOW CLOSE IS A STAPH VACCINE?:
Early results show promise for lowering nosocomial infection
rates by Donna Hoel, Senior Editor
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STAPHYLOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME:
Suspicion and prevention are keys to control by Nicolas C.
Issa, MD, Rodney L. Thompson,
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COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI:
Pathogens have major role in nosocomial infections by
Christof von Eiff, MD, Richard A. Proctor, MD, Georg Peters,
MD
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Pictures of some
skin infections
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