Staph Aureus: Coag +

Your Path

  • Staph aureus: coag +

Sites

  • Skin (cellulitis), soft tissue abscess, wound, joints, valves, bacteremia, bones w/osteo, toxin mediated illnesses, other

Etiology

  • Gram + cocci
  • MRSA or MRSA, either of which can be acquired in the hospital or community

Risk Factors

  • Typically via break/compromise of skin often portal of entry
  • Can occur in anyone, though more susceptible if compromised host (e.g. diabetes, vascular disease, injection drug use, etc)

Symptoms

  • Wound infection
  • Skin: cellulitis alone is more typically strep; purulence/abscess suggests staph
  • Osteomyelitis via direct extension
  • Arthritis: enters joint via hematogenous spread or direct inoculation
  • Bacteremia, with seeding of abnormal or artificial valves, joints or devices; virulent w/rapid destruction valves/death w/in hours/days
  • Toxic shock: fever, confusion, severe illness
  • Scalded skin (toxin mediated): fever, severe illness, painful erythema and desquamation
  • Pneumonia: (post viral or intubated) cough, sputum, sob; can be rapid and necrotizing, leading to lung abscess and severe illness
  • Toxin based food poisoning→ n/v hours after exposure, others affected who ate same

Physical Exam Findings

  • Fever, chills
  • Cellulitis→ redness, warmth, induration, skin abscess→ focal redness and fluctuance
  • Inflammation over/within infected structure
  • Systemic illness w/bacteremia
  • Other findings based on site and mechanism (e.g. pneumonia, toxins, etc)

Links