S. Aureus Research Paper

1938 Words8 Pages
S. AUREUS Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacteria, which means that the cell wall of this bacteria consists of a very thick peptidoglycan layer. They form spherical colonies in clusters that resemble grapes, and have no flagella. Surface secretions include adhesions, endotoxins, exoenzymes, and capsular polysaccharides (VanMeter, VanMeter, & Hubert, 2010). Staphylococcus aureus reproduces by binary fission, a method of asexual reproduction. The molecule starts to divide itself and its contents in two almost equal parts and eventually split (VanMeter, VanMeter, & Hubert, 2010). S. aureus is often present on the skin and respiratory tract of humans (Gould, 2011). Staphylococcus was first identified in 1880 in the UK by the Sir…show more content…
aureus infections can spread through contact with an infected person or surface by skin-to-skin contact or contact with soiled objects such as linens, food, clothing, or athletic equipment that were used by an infected person. S. aureus infections can be severe if they are deep enough. Patients who receive implanted prosthetic joints, for instance, are highly susceptible to deeply penetrating staph bacteria, and may develop septic arthritis, endocarditis, or pneumonia (Aziz, 2013). Common sources of nosocomial staphylococcus infections are staff nails, jewelry, stethoscopes, pagers, beds, instruments, workstations, and linens. Outside of the healthcare setting (community acquired) sources have been identified as razors, towels, soap bars, and whirlpools. If present in the skin of someone with atopic dermatitis, S. aureus can progress into staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). A severe form of this, Ritter's disease, affect neonates. Topical manifestations are atypical in that they do not respond to treatment with oral antibiotics and the link between atopic dermatitis and the presence of S. aureus is not clear to researchers (Gould,…show more content…
Once introduced to an antibiotic, if not eradicated, the bacteria will produce “offspring” that are resistant to that particular antibiotic (VanMeter, VanMeter, & Hubert, 2010). In addition, plasmids (freely-moving pieces of DNA in the cytoplasm) often carry genetic material for resistance and can transfer it from one cell to another, even crossing bacterial species (McKinney, 2013). Compounding the issue, the overuse of antibiotics has given resistance to many strains and many species that otherwise would never have been exposed. Practices like prescribing a much more powerful antibiotic than is necessary combined with patients’ tendencies to stop treatment once they feel a relief of symptoms have only strengthened latent bacteria (Aziz, 2013). Some doctors report that they feel obligated to provide a prescription to a patient, even when the cause of the illness is not yet proven to be bacterial (Bersch, 2010). In some countries, antibiotics are available without a prescription, further flooding the population with inappropriate medications without proper dosing and length of therapy (WHO, n.d.). This issue seems almost impossible to remedy, because in countries where access to medical care is limited, patients would otherwise die of simple infections if not for easy access to

More about S. Aureus Research Paper

Open Document