"
Team:SDU-Denmark/Background
From 2009.igem.org
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
[[Team:SDU-Denmark/Diary|Diary]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Protocols|Protocols]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Downloads|Downloads]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Brainstorm|Brainstorm]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Diary|Diary]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Protocols|Protocols]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Downloads|Downloads]] | [[Team:SDU-Denmark/Brainstorm|Brainstorm]] | ||
| - | =Description of | + | =Description of ''S. Aureus''= |
| - | + | ''Staphylococcus aureus'', also known as golden staph, is the most common cause of staphylococ infections. The gram positive bacterium is frequently part of the skin flora found in the nose and on skin. About 20% of the population are long-term carriers of ''''S. aureus''''. The nose is regarded as the major site of ''''S. aureus'''' carriage from where the organisms can spread to other parts of the body. Transmission of ''''S.aureus'''' to surgical wound via skin carriage in patients who are nasal carriers could be an explanation for endogenous infection. In nasal carriers, the skin is often colonized by ''''S. aureus''''. Preoperative disinfection may not be effective in the deeper layers of the skin, and S. aureus may thus become a source of infection during surgery ([http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/3/505?view=long&pmid=9227864 1]). | |
[[Image:http://www.ctdslab.co.uk/images/staph_haem.jpg]] | [[Image:http://www.ctdslab.co.uk/images/staph_haem.jpg]] | ||
Revision as of 13:36, 9 September 2009
Home | Background | Project | Parts | Team
Diary | Protocols | Downloads | Brainstorm
Contents |
Description of S. Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, also known as golden staph, is the most common cause of staphylococ infections. The gram positive bacterium is frequently part of the skin flora found in the nose and on skin. About 20% of the population are long-term carriers of 'S. aureus'. The nose is regarded as the major site of 'S. aureus' carriage from where the organisms can spread to other parts of the body. Transmission of 'S.aureus' to surgical wound via skin carriage in patients who are nasal carriers could be an explanation for endogenous infection. In nasal carriers, the skin is often colonized by 'S. aureus'. Preoperative disinfection may not be effective in the deeper layers of the skin, and S. aureus may thus become a source of infection during surgery ([http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/3/505?view=long&pmid=9227864 1]).
File:Http://www.ctdslab.co.uk/images/staph haem.jpg
The ability to control staphylococcal infections in the future will depend on many factors, e.g., development of new therapeutic agents, optimization of infection control measures, and introduction of new medical devices with a reduced risk of infection ([http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/3/505?view=long&pmid=9227864 2]).
Pathogenesis
'Staphylococcus aureus' is a virulent pathogen that is currently the most common cause of infections in hospitalized patients. The success of 'S. aureus' as a pathogen and its ability to cause such a wide range of infections are the result of its extensive virulence factors ([http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/520289 3]).
'S. Aureus' is normally considered potential pathogen, as it can cause infections but also is seen as a non-pathogen part of the normal flora.
'S.aureus' infections is plentiful and diverse. The most common infection is of the skin as impertigo, cellulitis or less frequent scalded skin syndrome. If the bacteria enters the bloodstream known as sepsis, the bacteria can spread to organs and many different serious infections can result. Moreover 'S.aureus' infections include pneumonia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, food poisoning and more ([http://www.medicinenet.com/staph_infection/article.htm 4]).
