Staphylococcus (cont.)
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
Staph Infection DiagnosisDiagnosis of staph infections begins with attempting to culture the bacteria from an infected site. Any area with pus, crusty drainage, or blisters should be cultured. Blood from patients with sepsis, toxic shock, or pneumonia should be cultured. Standard microbiological techniques (growth on Baird-Parker agar plates and a positive coagulase test) identify staph. S. aureus lyses red blood cells in blood agar plates (hemolytic staph) while S. epidermidis does not (nonhemolytic staph). All staph should be further tested to see if the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin (and other antibiotics) and thus determine if the organisms are MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This test is important as MRSA organisms are resistant to many antibiotics usually prescribed for staph infections. Next Page: Must Read Articles Related to Staphylococcus
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Viewer Comments & ReviewsStaph Infection - Length Symptoms LastedThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:How long did the symptoms of your staph infection last? Staph Infection - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was the treatment for your staph infection? |
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Staphylococcal Infections »
Staphylococcal infections are usually caused by the organism Staphylococcus aureus.
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