SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Hospital scientist Joanne Thambyah (L) inspects an unidentified culture (C) in the Microbiology Department of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, 07 June 2004. A young man who died in the intensive care unit of the Royal Brisbane Hospital, in the northern state of Brisbane last year, has been identified as the first victim of a deadly new antibiotic-resistant superbug which has emerged in Australia and is related to the golden staphylococcus virus. AFP PHOTO/Greg WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

How staphylococcus aureus infections are contracted and treated

By Cristiano Antonino On Feb 10, 2022

Staphylococcus aureus infections can be transmitted by physical contact, usually through contaminated hands

Generally, the skin and mucous membranes provide a sufficient barrier to prevent the microbe from entering the body, but damage (e.g. from trauma or viral infection) can allow the microbe to spread through deep tissue or blood.

Particularly at risk of infection are immunocompromised people and those using invasive medical devices.

In addition, methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections are typically associated with risky hospital admissions or medical procedures.

Symptoms and diseases associated with staphylococcal infection

Staphylococcus aureus infections can present as:

impetigo: erythema that develops into blisters that burst into scabs
Ritter-Lyell syndrome: blisters that burst exposing a sensitive area of skin, fever, mucopurulent eye discharge
furuncles, folliculitis or carbuncle
osteomyelitis: sudden fever, bone pain, limping gait
septic arthritis: fever, difficulty moving, erythema, overheating and joint pain
endocarditis: fever and malaise
toxic shock syndrome: fever, diffuse macular retching, hypotension
pneumonia
thrombophlebitis: fever, pain, sometimes erythema
deep infections and abscesses: fever sometimes associated with localised pain
cellulitis