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Team:SDU-Denmark/Background
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Background
Description of S. Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, also known as golden staph, is the most common cause of staphylococ infections. It is a gram positive bacterium, that can normally be treated with penicillin, but unfortunately they have become resistant (see MRSA). ([http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Krop,_psyke_og_sundhed/Sundhedsvidenskab/Farmakologi/penicillin]) The nose is regarded as the major site of S. aureus carriage from where the organisms can spread to other parts of the body. About 20% of the population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. Frequently part of the skin flora and the mucosa is transiently contaminated. ([http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/reprint/10/3/505?view=long&pmid=9227864 1]) 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.cassiopeaonline.it/immagini/staphylococcus bacterium.jpgMedia:Dennis Kunkel, Microscopy Inc. 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]).
