O staphylococcus aureus is a spherical, aerobic or facultative anaerobic, gram positive bacterium that grows in the form of bunches of grapes. This bacteria is considered by doctors a problem, since, in addition to causing infections, they are usually found on the skin of up to 15% of human beings.
It is common to have in our body, such as skin, mouth, nose, intestine, colonies of bacteria that do not cause diseases, but it is important to emphasize that these bacteria do not only cause diseases while they remain restricted to these places, as colonies are veritable reservoirs of bacteria ready to invade the body whenever the immune system is weakened.
Bacteria found on the skin are just waiting for an injury to enter the body, and that's why It is extremely important to wash the wounds well, as many types of infections in the body are caused by the staphylococcus aureus, and the most common type is skin infection, whose entry point can be even a small insect bite. O staphylococcus aureus
is also responsible for infections like impetigo, sty, boil, folliculitis, puerperal mastitis among others.O staphylococcus aureus it can also invade our body through food contaminated with bacterial toxins, causing intense intestinal infection, vomiting and diarrhea. These foods can be contaminated when handling them (by people who are contaminated with the bacteria in nasopharyngeal secretions, or with hand wounds, abscesses or acnes). Products that have not been properly cooked or refrigerated allow the bacteria to multiply and produce the toxin.
Once in our body, the staphylococcus aureusit may not just be restricted to our skin. If it invades the bloodstream, it can reach any organ, triggering serious infections, sepsis and septic shock. One of the most feared infections caused by staphylococcus aureus, it is endocarditis, in the heart, but other possible infections are pneumonia, pyelonephritis, and osteomyelitis.
Infections caused by this bacteria are treated with penicillin derivatives, and in the most serious cases, hospitalization is carried out.
By Paula Louredo
Graduated in Biology
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biologia/staphylococcus-aureus.htm