Staphylococcus aureus
Last reviewed 01/2018
Staph. aureus:
- is the most virulent staphylococcus species in man
- occurs in the anterior nares in 50-75% of healthy people
- found less frequently in the skin, especially the axilla and perineum, and the mucous membranes of the throat and gut
- may be disseminated from these sites to other parts of the body
Staph. aureus is ubiquitous and always present in the hospital environment.
It classically forms cream-coloured or golden yellow colonies when cultured.