Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacterium, classified as a Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). CoNS is a group of bacteria that includes Staphylococcus species and is capable of coagulating plasma, a liquid tissue found in the human body.
CoNS is usually found in the environment, and on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and animals. It can cause various diseases, ranging from minor skin infections to serious infections, such as sepsis and meningitis. Staphylococcus aureus is a common isolate from CoNS and is responsible for an array of clinical infections. It is one of the major causes of skin, soft tissue, orthopedic, and bloodstream infections.
The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus has become a major problem in the healthcare setting and antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. Multi-drug resistant strains of S. aureus, also known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are becoming increasingly prevalent in hospitals worldwide. The MRSA strain has built up a resistance to most antibiotics, so treatment options are limited and the risk of infection is higher.
Even though Staphylococcus aureus is part of the CoNS family, it has adapted to cause the most medical complications amongst all CoNS isolates. It is essential to identify and differentiate Staphylococci by species in order to provide an appropriate plan of care.
To sum up, Staphylococcus aureus is a type of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus and is mostly found on the skin and other areas of the body. It is known for causing many diseases and its resistance to antibiotics has become a major problem. It is essential to identify and differentiate Staphylococci by species to provide the best care.
