Staphylococcus aureas Flashcards
Aerobic or anaerobic?
Facultative aerobe
Catalase test result?
Catalase positive (enzyme decomposes hydrogen peroxide)
Gram stain result?
Gram positive (stains purple)
Commonly found where?
Skin, upper respiratory tract
Natural pigment?
Yellow
Function of coagulase?
Enzyme that converts fibrin to fibrinogen, forming a localised clot. This protects the cell from phagocytosis.
Leukocidin function?
Destroys white blood cells, pus formation
Food poisoning?
Caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin A
Other virulence factors?
Hyaluronidase, fibrinolysin, lipase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease
Toxic Shock Syndrome cause
Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 attracts many T cells, causing massive inflammation
Symptoms of TSS?
Fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, potentially death.
MRSA
Caused by overuse of antibiotics, treated with vancomycin
