Staph.Aureus Flashcards
What shape is Staphylococcus Aureus?
Coccal or Round shaped
In what formation does Staph Aureus grow?
Staph Aureus grows in clusters.
How does staph Aureus stain?
Staph Aureus stains purple and is gram positive
What kind of anaerobe is Staph Aureus?
Staph Aureus is a facultative anaerobe
Does Staph Aureus form spores?
No
Is staph Aureus motile?
No
What is the result of catalase test for Staph Aureus?
Positive
How is Staph Aureus differentiated from Staph epidermidis and Staph Saprophyticus?
Since Staph epidermidis and Staph Saprophyticus also test positive for catalase, coagulase test is done to differentiate. When Staph Aureus bacteria is stirred in a liquid emulsion and few drops of plasma are added, the fibrinogen in the plasma will be converted into sticky fibrin clumps by coagulase which is produced by Staph Aureus, and not by Staph epidermidis and Saprophyticus.
How common is Staph Aureus?
It is extremely common and colonizes a quarter of the population , usually the nostrils, groin, armpits and other parts of the skin
What factors can affect the amount of Staph Aureus found on the skin?
pH, Humidity, Sweat levels of the skin and presence of other bacteria on the skin.
What happens if too much Staph Aureus grows on the skin surface?
It may penetrate the skin through tiny micro fissures or large breaks from trauma or surgery causing wound infections
What happens if Staph Aureus infects the epidermis?
It causes Superficial impetigo
What happens if Staph aureus infects the dermis?
It causes deeper reaching cellulitis.
What happens if Staph Aureus infection goes too deep into the skin?
It can cause a subcutaneous abscess.
What happens when Staph Aureus infects the muscle?
It causes pyomyositis
