What is Staphylococcus.


                          What is Staphylococcus.

In Nigeria today you often hear people talking about Staphylococcus and mentioning it all the times especially the Trado-medical expects. Is Staphylococcus as bad as its being painted ? These and more you will know here. 
Staphylococci can be found normally in the nose and on the skin (and less commonly in other locations) of around 25%-30% of healthy adults and in 25% of hospital workers. In the majority of cases, the bacteria do not cause disease. However, damage to the skin or other injury may allow the bacteria to overcome the natural protective mechanisms of the body, leading to infection
Staphylococcus (from the Greek: σταφυλή, staphylē, "grape" and κόκκος, kókkos, "granule") is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope, they appear round (cocci), and form in grape-like clusters.
The Staphylococcus genus includes at least 40 species. Of these, nine have two subspecies and one has three subspecies.[ Most are harmless and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms. Found worldwide, they are a small component of soil microbial flora.

                                      

Taxonomy

The taxonomy is based on 16s rRNA sequences, and most of the staphylococcal species fall into 11 clusters:

  1. S. aureus group – S. aureus, S. simiae
  2. S. auricularis group – S. auricularis
  3. S. carnosus group – S. carnosus, S. condimenti, S. massiliensis, S. piscifermentans, S. simulans
  4. S. epidermidis group – S. capitis, S. caprae, S. epidermidis, S. saccharolyticus
  5. S. haemolyticus group – S. devriesei, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis
  6. S. hyicus-intermedius group – S. chromogenes, S. felis, S. delphini, S. hyicus, S. intermedius, S. lutrae, S. microti,S. muscae, S. pseudintermedius, S. rostri, S. schleiferi
  7. S. lugdunensis group – S. lugdunensis
  8. S. saprophyticus group – S. arlettae, S. cohnii, S. equorum, S. gallinarum, S. kloosii, S. leei, S. nepalensis, S. saprophyticus, S. succinus, S. xylosus
  9. S. sciuri group – S. fleurettii, S. lentus, S. sciuri, S. stepanovicii, S. vitulinus
  10. S. simulans group – S. simulans
  11. S. warneri group – S. pasteuri, S. warneri
A twelfth group – that of S. caseolyticus – has now been moved to a new genus Macrococcus, the species of which are currently the closest known relatives of the Staphylococci.  
 Staphylococcus is group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases.                                Staph infections may cause disease due to direct infection or due to the production of toxins by the bacteria. Boils, impetigo, food poisoning, cellulitis, and toxic shock syndromeare all examples of diseases that can be caused by Staphylococcus. Symptoms and signs of a localized staph infection include a collection of pus, such as a boil, furuncle, or abscess. The area is typically tender or painful and may be reddened and swollen.Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and other drugs in this class.Staph infections are treated with topical, oral, or intravenous antibiotics, depending upon the type of infection. Most infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus. 
If untreated, infections caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus, may lead to chronic disability or even death. S. aureus is one type of Staphylococcus bacteria but is responsible for most infections caused by this group. It causes skin and soft tissue infections, bone and joint infections, pneumonia and infections of the central nervous system.

What’s the best antibiotic for Staph?

The type, location and severity of your infection all help determine which antibiotic is best for you. Other factors that come into play when choosing a Staph antibiotic are: pregnancy, drug allergies, other medications being taken and other health risks. As you’ll see in the section below, the most accurate way to prescribe an antibiotic is to get tested to identify the best antibiotic that will work against your particular infection.
Commonly prescribed Staph infection antibiotics can include (but are not limited to):
  • B-lactams: Such as Oxacillin, Flucloxacillin
  • First generation Cephalosporins: Such as Cefazolin, Cephalothin and Cephalexin
  • Lincosamides: Such as Clindamycin and Lincomycin
  • Macrolides: Such as Erythromycin
  • Tetracyclines: Such as Doxycycline, Minocycline
  • Sulfa drugs
  • Mupirocin cream (for nose infections)
  • Vancomycin (IV) and Linezolid (for severe or resistant MRSA strains)
  • Most of the above antibiotics are for less severe Staph infections. MRSA is resistant to the B-lactams listed above.
Fortunately, Staph is generally easy to treat and antibiotics prescribed will generally work. If you have a mild Staph infection, antibiotics may not be required, and treatment may instead includewound incision, drainage or warm compresses (click here for more info). However, for serious infections, your Doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic.



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