S. aureus disease spectrum

• skin and soft tissues: furuncles, carbuncles

• bone: osteomyelitis

• joints: septic arthritis

• endocarditis: normal valves are vulnerable

• wound infections and cellulitis

• abscesses any organ—hematogenous spread

• toxin-mediated disease

  • scalded skin syndrome

  • toxic shock syndrome

  • food poisoning

• impetigo: superficial Staph infection

• carbuncle: infection below the epidermal layer

• furuncle: mini-abscess associated with a hair follicle, a milder form of which is termed folliculitis

• cellulitis: associated with positive blood cultures; almost always requires systemic antibiotics to improve

• if Staph forms an abscess, drainage is often curative—antibiotics are not always needed

• osteomyelitis

• septic arthritis

• abscesses anywhere in the body—lung, frontal sinus

• periorbital infection

• brain abscess

• endocarditis

• wound infections

Category: Microbiology Notes