Staphylococcus aureus infection overview
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Staphylococcus aureus infection Main page |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of staph infections. It is understood that amongst the general population 20–30% carry Staphylococci irrespective of being symptomatic.[1] Staphylococcus aureus is associated with a number of illnesses including insignificant infections of the skin, like furuncles, impetigo, folliculitis, pimples, abscesses, boils, cellulitis ,carbuncles and scalded skin syndrome. It can also lead to various conditions that can be life-threatening such as endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), meningitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and septicemia. It can involve soft tissue, skin, joints, respiratory, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. It is also known to cause nosocomial infections very commonly. Post surgical infections of the wound is also caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
S. aureus was discovered in 1880 by Sir Alexander Ogston, a surgeon from Aberdeen, Scotland, in pus from surgical abscesses.[2] Moore than 500,000 patients in the US acquire a staphylococcal infection every year.[3]
References
- ↑ Heyman, D. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (2004) 18th Edition. Washington DC: American Public Health Assocation.
- ↑ Ogston A (1984). ""On Abscesses". Classics in Infectious Diseases". Rev Infect Dis. 6 (1): 122–28. PMID 6369479.
- ↑ Bowersox, John (1999-05-27). "Experimental Staph Vaccine Broadly Protective in Animal Studies". NIH. Retrieved 2007-07-28. Check date values in:
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