STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS - A WELL-ARMED PATHOGEN

Staphylococcus aureus is a virulent pathogen that is currently the mos t common cause of infections in hospitalized patients. S. aureus infec tion can involve any organ system, The success of S. aureus as a patho gen and its ability to cause such a wide range of infections are the r esult of its extensive virulence factors, The increase in the resistan ce of this virulent pathogen to antibacterial agents, coupled with its increasing prevalence as a nosocomial pathogen, is of major concern. The core resistance phenotype that seems to be most associated with th e persistence of S. aureus in the hospital is methicillin resistance. Methicillin resistance in nosocomial S. aureus isolates has been incre asing dramatically in United States hospitals and is also associated w ith resistance to other useful antistaphylococcal compounds, Possible ways to decrease the incidence of nosocomial S. aureus infections incl ude instituting more effective infection control, decreasing nasal col onization, developing vaccines, and developing new or improved antimic robials.