23/10/2020
Description:-
Discovered by Sir Alexander Ogston in 1880.
Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus, is a species of Gram-positive spherical bacteria that commonly causes surgical and skin infections, bacteraemia and food poisoning.
Interesting Facts:
1.)The first part of the name, “staph”, is a reference to clusters of “grapes” that the organism forms. The “coccus” part refers to the round shape of the bacteria. The ‘aureus’ is from its golden colour.
2.)Many people carry S. aureus and even antibiotic resistant variants such as Methicillin/Multi resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a superbug, on their skin and mucous membranes.
3.)Up to 20% of the human population may be a carrier of this bacteria.
4.)It is one of the most common causes of hospital acquired infections and is one of the five most common causes of infection after injury or surgery.
5.)Infection:
It can be transmitted by a number of means, for example via air droplets or aerosols, direct contact with objects that are contaminated (food, water, inanimate objects) or bites.
Infections range from mild to life threatening. It can cause abscesses, boils and other infections of the skin, but can also produce infection in any organ of the body. The most common form of food poisoning is caused by S. aureus toxins.
One of the toxins produced by this bacteria is responsible for Toxic Shock Syndrome.
6.)Practising good hand hygiene will minimise the chance of infection.
