Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a commensal bacterium
bacteria found on the skin and nasal mucosa of humans
mucosa of humans and on the skin of warm-blooded
warm-blooded animals. Nearly a third of healthy adults are colonized
are colonized by S. aureus, and 10-20% may have persistent
persistent colonization (8). S. aureus can
cause a wide range of invasive infections,
including skin and soft tissue infections,
bacteremia and ventilator-associated pneumonia
pneumonia (9). S. aureus is spread by direct skin contact
contact with the skin, or by contact with contaminated
surfaces.
