infections
Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Other Staphylococcal Infections
Staphylococcus aureusproduces an enzyme called coagulase. Other species of staphylococci do not and thus are called coagulase-negative staphylococci. These bacteria normally reside on the skin of all healthy people. These bacteria, although less dangerous thanStaphylococcus aureus, can cause serious infections, usually when acquired in a hospital. The bacteria may infect catheters inserted through the skin into a blood vessel or implanted medical devices (such as heart pacemakers or artificial heart valves and joints). These bacteria are often resistant to many antibiotics.Vancomycin, which is effective against many resistant bacteria, is used, sometimes withrifampin. Medical devices, if infected, often must be removed. 