Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus Aureus is a common bacterium that lives on the skin or in the nose. It is also called 'golden staph' and is the most common cause of staph infections. Infections can be spread through contact with pus from an infected wound, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, as well as contact with objects and equipment used by an infected person. It is also a major cause of hospital infections. Staphylococcus Aureus can cause food poisoning by releasing enterotoxins into food. Additionally, it can cause a variety of pus forming infections in humans. It causes superficial skin lesions such as impetigo, furunculosis, boils, and styes. More serious infections include mastitis, pneumonia, phlebitis, meningitis, infections of the urinary tract, and in severe cases, it can cause endocarditis and osteomyelitis.