Treatment Of S. Aureus Essay

The Staphylococcus aureus bacteria belongs to the Staphylococcaceae family. It is small, round shaped, and non-motile. Staphylococcus aureus stains gram positive and can often be found in small clusters (Mandal, 2010). It often forms chains and is a large contributor of soft tissue infections. It is of a yellow color, hence the name ?aureus? which comes from the Latin term ?aurum? for gold (Orenstein, n.d.). Staphylococcus aureus is found in a few spots on the human body, such as the nasal passage, the skin, the oral cavity, and even the gastrointestinal tract. Staphylococci and Streptococci are two different strands of the bacteria and are very hard to distinguish from one another. In order to tell the difference between them, without a microscope, a catalase test needs to be performed. The test is undergone by adding 3% hydrogen peroxide to both samples. Since Staphylococci are catalase positive, meaning they produce catalase, they will produce O? while the Streptococci will not because Streptococci are catalase negative (Todar, n.d.).

Methicillin Staphylococcus aureus is defined as strains of bacteria that are resistant to beta-lactam agents, including the synthetic penicillins (eg, methicillin, oxacillin) and the cephalosporins. MRSA can resist the effects of many common antibiotics, so it is difficult to treat. If the infection spreads to the blood stream and becomes systemic may increases risk for life threatening complications. First sign of MRSA are small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. Next they may mature into deep and painful abscesses that require surgical draining. If the bacteria is not confined to the skin and infect the blood stream, causing potentially fatal infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Staphylococcus aureus is a microorganism that appears on several diverse surfaces. This bacterium lives harmlessly on the skin as part of the normal flora. Hard surfaces are also covered in S. aureus. The microorganism is gram positive.

Staphylococcus aureus, or golden staph, “is a common bacterium that lives on the skin or

Staphylococcus aureus is a cluster bacterium that can be found on the skin of around 25% of healthy adults. This bacterium is growing everyday all over the world and many people have no idea they are even carriers. “Staphylococcus aureus is present in the nose of adults (temporarily in 60% and permanently in 20 to 30%) and sometimes on the skin” (Levison). This bacterium has the ability to cause skin infection and sometimes may lead to severe life threatening diseases. There are several different strains of staphylococcus and depending on the severity of the infection is how a health care provider decides the treatment most efficient. Impetigo is more common in children, but adults still have the chance of getting this skin condition. Toxic Shock Syndrome is also associated with S. aureus and is found in at least 50% of the cases to date. S. aureus can display a variety of symptoms and all vary with the disease at hand. Symptoms can range from a boil on the skin or in the nose to skin rashes. More severe symptoms can be carbuncles and infection of the blood (sepsis).Staphylococcus aureus is an ugly bacterium; that can lead to several diseases, such as Toxic Shock Syndrome and Impetigo. S. aureus has multiple symptoms and is treated with a variety of antibiotics.

Necrotizing fasciitis Staphylococcus auerus can occur in many forms, one being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auerus (MRSA). This specific strand of bacterium that has evolved to become antibiotic resistant. This makes MRSA necrotizing fasciitis almost impossible to treat with antibiotics alone, and often requires extensive surgical procedures. In The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers highlighted MRSA as a root cause of numerous cases of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis reported in Los Angeles in 2003 (7).

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureas (MRSA) is one of the most dangerous strains of Staphylococcus Aureas that causes life-threatening pneumonia, bloodstream infections and surgical site infections in medical facilities (CDC, 2015).

A total of 88 S. aureus were isolated from different samples including surfaces (n=34, 38.9%), personnel (23, 26.6%), air (20, 23%) and patients (11, 11.9%).

MRSA can cause a variety of infections ranging from non-invasive skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) (i.e. furuncles, abscesses, and folliculitis) to invasive infections such a bacteremia, meningitis, and osteomyelitis. Historically, MRSA infections have been categorized into two specific types: healthcare-associated (HA-MRSA) and community-associated (CA-MRSA) based on clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory criteria. These definitions have continued to evolve, and now, at least three MRSA categories are accepted which describe the epidemiological etiology of the infection. First,

MRSA which is short for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is a type of staph or skin infection that is completely resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics. When Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Auereus was first discovered several decades ago when it spread in many hospitals and then into the community, this infection was known as one of the first infections to be completely resistant to the most powerful antibiotics. Staph infections have been known since the early twentieth century as one of the deadliest diseases. Staphylococcal infections are diseases caused by different types of staphylococcal bacteria. Twenty to thirty percent of all healthy people get this infection in the nostrils and or the skin. Staph

MRSA is considered to be nosocomial infections which are infections that occur within 48 hours of being admitted to a hospital but recently the newest term for these conditions are healthcare associated infections (HAISs)(book). The majority of these infections are common among medical settings because they provide an ideal environment for development and transmission. These infections can be transmitted by contaminated hands of healthcare providers, contaminated instruments, and urinary catheters. All these microbes allow easy entrance into the body and invasive surgeries can help with the spread of diseases because they are an open access point to the body. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is one of the most concerning healthcare associated infections because it is resistant to more than one antibiotic. It is associated with surgical wound, urinary tract, and blood stream infection and has a possibility of causing respiratory infections (book). Over the last 20 years MRSA has spread into the community and has been associated with the recent high antibiotic use, sharing contaminated person items, living in crowded settings, and poor hygiene. This form is different in the fact that it can be treated with alternate antibiotics.

The coagulase-positive staphylococci create the most pathogenic species of S aureus. They are common commensal and opportunistic pathogens while the coagulase-negative staph constitutes S epidermidis. The C-NS are common commensal pathogens of the skin. The clusters emerge because staph is separated in two planes. The structure of the cocci makes it easier to differentiate between the staphylococci and streptococci (Harris et al.2002).

The release of two exotoxins from certain strains of S. aureus can lead to Staphylococcal scaled skin syndrome (SSSS), which is characterized by blistering skin. Invasion into the body can lead to more serious health problems including pneumonia (a frequent complication of influenza), mastitis, phlebitis (inflammation of the veins), meningitis, and urinary tract infections. If the bacterium is allowed to colonize even deeper tissues more serious conditions such as osteomyelitis and endocarditis may result. The most serious consequences of these deeper tissue infections occur when the bacterium invades the bloodstream leading to septic shock and possibly death.

Staphylococcus aureus is Gram-Positive bacteria and is non-moving small round shaped or non-motile cocci. It is named staphylococcus because it is found to exist in a grape-like cluster (Mandal, 2012). Food poisoning from these bacteria is caused by the bacteria multiplying in foods and produce toxins especially if food is kept at room temperature. The toxins may be present in dangerous amounts in foods but do not show any signs of spoilage (WebMD, 2015). Staphylococcus aureus is transmitted through air droplets or aerosol. About 30% of healthy humans carry Staphylococcus aureus in their nose, back of the throat and on their skin. Therefore, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, he or she infects others by releasing numerous small droplets

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that can be found on the nose and other respiratory areas, present in about one-third of the population. ‘Staphylococcus’ comes from Greek language, translating into “cluster of grapes” to describe the spherical berry shape of the bacteria and ‘aureus’ translates to “gold” in Latin. That being said, Staphylococcus aureus is golden in nature. When stained and observed under a microscope, it retains a dark purple color and is known to be Gram-positive bacteria. A staining method is used to examine the different cultures (Gram-positive or Gram-negative) observing its observation of characteristics portraying shape and size.