Staphylococcus Aureus Infections

This volume offers a comprehensive overview of basic and applied aspects of Staphylococcus aureus, which is one of the most important human pathogens. It includes sixteen chapters that address the microbiology and immunology of S. aureus, the pathology of its key manifestations, and the current standard of care. Further, it reviews cutting-edge advances in alternative therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to antibiotics. All chapters were written by respected experts in the field – presenting recent findings on a diverse range of aspects, they are nonetheless interlinked. As such, the book is a must-read for all researchers, clinicians and technicians engaged in basic or applied science work involving S. aureus.

Discusses staphylococcus aureus bacteria and the infections they can cause, their diagnosis, treatment, and more.

Staphylococci remain the most important cause of hospital-acquiredinfections in the U.S. and MRSA has become the most common cause ofskin and soft tissue infection in many parts of the world. There is now a much greater understanding of the physiology andevolution of the staphylococci and this new edition reflects therapid advancements in knowledge about this pathogen and provides acomprehensive review from both clinical and basic scienceperspectives. The first section addresses the basic biology of thestaphylococci, their molecular genetics, host defenses and hostevasion, virulence determinants, mechanisms of antibioticresistance, and laboratory techniques. The second section dealswith epidemiology, and the third section provides an overview ofthe varied clinical manifestations of human staphylococcalinfections. The fourth section covers prevention and treatment ofthese often life-threatening infections. Written by experts from around the globe, this book is essentialreading for all clinicians and basic scientists studying thestaphylococci.

Staphylococcus aureus is now acknowledged as being the most important bacterial pathogen of humans. It usually produces localized disease but can be rapidly invasive, spreading through the tissues, invading bone, and seeding the bloodstream to produce a fulminant picture of septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and rapid death. Moreover, most strains of staph infections are becoming resistant to most antibiotics, thus posing a significant problem for hospitals and health care facilities. This book, a volume in the Infectious Agents and Pathogenesis series, presents chapters by the major researchers in the field.

Author Biography: Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza da Cunha, MD in Science and Technology of the Food (1992), PhD in Tropical Diseases (1998); is biologist with main research interests in Microbiology, focusing on Bacteriology, acting on the following subjects: Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS), epidemiology, virulence factors, biofilms, enterotoxins and antimicrobial resistance. She is professor and researcher at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology of the Bioscience Institute, S�o Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Scholarship in Research Productivity of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), an agency linked to the Ministry of Science and Tecnology (MCT), dedicated to the promotion of scientific and technological research and to the formation of human resources for research in the Brazil. Professor and mentor master''s, doctoral and postdoctoral studies at the graduate program in Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Medicine of Botucatu and the Post-graduation in General Biology and Applied, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. She is involved in research projects as a scientific reference in Staphylococcus supported for the S�o Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP - public foundation with the mission to foster research and the scientific and technological development of the State of S�o Paulo, Brazil. She is the author of more than 80 papers in international peer reviewed journals and books, and referee for about 20 journals. Book Description: This book provides an overview of the different topics of staphylococcal research in recent years. Severe infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a global health problem in the twenty-first century. Chapter One discusses MRSA as a major cause of healthcare or hospital-associated infections (HA-MRSA) in burn patients, indicated as a high-risk group for invasive staphylococcal infection. Types of MRSA, which have traditionally been tackled as exclusive agents of healthcare-associated infections, are now recognized as the causative agents of severe disease acquired in the community. The second chapter discusses these infections as they occur mainly in "special populations". For example, we may cite people living with HIV/AIDS, older adults living in long-term care facilities and patients with chronic diseases, notably diabetes mellitus. In Chapter Three, a third epidemiological form of MRSA is discussed, which is known as livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). Chapter Four emphasizes the current scenario of highly adaptable clonal complexes. Among these strains, LA-MRSA belonging to clonal complex (CC) 398 are particularly important, and nosocomial infections caused by strains of CC398 are frequently reported. Confirmation of the presence of microorganisms in blood cultures is one of the most important roles of clinical microbiology laboratories. Blood culture testing - the gold standard for the diagnosis of sepsis - is able to elucidate the etiology of infection and to establish appropriate antibiotic treatment in order to improve the prognosis of septic patients and, consequently, to reduce morbidity and mortality; this is the subject discussed in Chapter Five. Nosocomial infections manifest more intensely and more frequently in newborns when compared to children or adults. Staphylococcus aureus infections in newborns is discussed in Chapter Six. Staphylococcus spp. are an important cause of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD), frequently requiring change of the dialysis technique and causing an important impact on the mortality of PD patients, another matter of great importance which is discussed in Chapter Seven. Finally, the epidemiology and experimental evidence that S. aureus and its products, the superantigens, are directly related to the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases, which are discussed in Chapter Eight. This book provides an excellent overview of the different applications of staphylococcal research for clinicians, researchers and students who intend to address these issues, and permits continued high-quality research involving these important pathogens. Target Audience: The book provides an excellent overview in the different applicative fields staphylococcal research for clinicians, researchers and students.

Staphylococcus was first recognized as a human pathogen in 1880 and was named for its grape cluster-like appearance. In 1884, Staphylococcus aureus was identified and named for its vibrant golden color, which was later found to be the result of golden toxin production. Here, experts examine in-depth patterns of S. aureus colonization and exposures in humans, mammals, and birds that have led to the development of various clinical diseases. The mode of transmission of S. aureus and different methods for its detection in different samples are defined. Conventional antibiotic options to treat this aggressive, multifaceted, and readily adaptable pathogen are becoming limited. Alternative, novel chemotherapeutics to target S. aureus are discussed in the pages within, including herbal medicines, bee products, and modes of delivery.

Staphylococcus aureus is resident in skin and nasal membranes with a formidable pathogenic potential to cause a variety of community and hospital acquired infections. This authoritative survey covers the impact of genome sequences into our understanding of MRSA and MSSA pathogenesis. World specialists from America, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the UK contribute knowledge and experience which will be welcome to researchers, practitioners and postgraduate students of immunology, microbiology, bacteriology and pharmacology worldwide. An authoritative survey that covers the impact of genome sequences into the understanding of MRSA and MSSA pathogenesis World specialists from America, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the UK contribute knowledge and experience