Staphylococcus Aureus
  Created by Peter Acquafredda

Diseases Caused by Staphylococcus aureus

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An inflamed boil caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen to humans causing many illnesses that range from mild infections to life-threatening diseases.  It can cause disease by direct infection by the bacteria or by toxins produced by the bacteria.

1. Skin Infections:

            a. Impetigo (crusting of the skin)

            b. Boils (furuncles)

            c. Cellulitis (inflammation of connective tissue under skin; leads to skin redness

    and swelling)

            d. Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS; mainly in infants/ children;

    infection from exfoliative (EF) toxins; peeling of skin)

            e. Abscesses

2. Pneumonia (forms abscesses in lungs)

3. Endocarditis (infection in heart valve)

4. Osteomyelitis (infection in bones)

5. Food Poisoning (from enterotoxins)

6. Toxic Shock Syndrome (infection from texotoxin TSST-1; can lead to death)

7. Sepsis (infection in blood; if untreated, the mortality rate is 80%)

Fact:Staphylococcus aureus is one of the main causes of nosocomial infections such as surgical wound infections and blood infections. 

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Impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus.