Staphylococcus Timothy Foster

Staphylococci can cause many forms of infection. (1) S aureus causes superficial skin lesions (boils, styes) and localized abscesses in other sites. (2) S aureus causes deepseated infections, such as osteomyelitis and endocarditis and more serious skin infections (furunculosis). (3) S aureus is a major cause of hospital acquired (nosocomial) infection of surgical wounds and, with S epidermidis, causes infections associated with indwelling medical devices. (4) S aureus causes food poisoning by releasing enterotoxins into food. (5) S aureus causes toxic shock syndrome by release of superantigens into the blood stream. (6) S saprophiticus causes urinary tract infections, especially in girls. (7) Other species of staphylococci (S lugdunensis, S haemolyticus, S warneri, S schleiferi, S intermedius) are infrequent pathogens.