 Staphylococci are gram positive cocci,

 Occur in grape like clusters,

 In Greek; staphyle - Bunch of grapes
Kokkus - Berry
CLASSIFICATION:
A) Based on coagulase production:
1. Coagulase positive: Eg- S. aureus
2. Coagulase negative: Eg- S. epidermidis
S. saprophyticus

B) Based on pathogenicity:
1. Common pathogen: Eg- S. aureus
2. Opportunistic pathogens: Eg- S. epidermidis
S. saprophyticus
3. Non pathogen: Eg- S. homonis
 STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
MORPHOLOGY:
 These are spherical
cocci.
 Approximately 1μm in
diameter.
 Arranged
characteristically in
grape like clusters.
 They are non motile
and non sporing.
 A few strains possess
capsules.
CULTURE:

Media used :-

i) Non selective media: Nutrient agar,

Blood agar,
MacConkey’s agar.

ii) Selective media: Salt-milk agar,

Ludlam’s medium
Cultural Characteristics:
i) On nutrient agar- The colonies are large, circular,
convex, smooth, shiny, opaque and easily
emulsifiable. Most strains produce golden yellow
pigments.
ii) On MacConkey’s agar- The colonies are small & pink in
colour.
iii) On blood agar- Most strains produce β- haemolytic
colonies.
Biochemical reactions:

1) Catalase test- Positive.

2) Coagulase test-
i) Slide coagulase test- Positive.
ii) Tube coagulase test- Positive.

SLIDE COAGULASE TEST TUBE COAGULASE TEST

3) Reduces nitrate to nitrite.

4) Ferments mannitol anaerobically with acid only.

5) Urea hydrolysis test- Positive.

6) Gelatin liquefaction test- Positive.

7) Produces Lipase.

8) Produces Phosphatase.

9) Produces Thermostable nuclease.

PATHOGENICITY:

Source of infection:
A) Exogenous: patients or carriers
B) Endogenous: From colonized site

Mode of transmission:
A) Contact: direct or indirect( through fomites)
B) Inhalation of air borne droplets
Virulence factors:

These include

A) Cell associated factors

B) Extracellular factors
A) CELL ASSOCIATED FACTORS:

a) Cell associated polymers

b) Cell surface proteins

a) CELL ASSOCIATED POLYMERS

1. Cell wall polysaccharide
2. Teichoic acid
3. Capsular polysaccharide

b) CELL SURFACE PROTEINS:

1. Protein A
2. Clumping factor (bound coagulase)
Structure of Staphylococcal cell wall
B) EXTRACELLULAR FACTORS

a) Enzymes

b) Toxins
a) Enzymes:
1. Free coagulase
2. Catalase
3. Lipase
4. Hyaluronidase
5. DNAase
6. Thermonuclease
7. Staphylokinase (Fibrinolysin)
8. Phosphatase
b) Toxins:
1. Cytolytic toxins
i) Haemolysins
Alpha haemolysin
Beta haemolysin
Gamma haemolysin
Delta haemolysin
ii) Leucocidin (Panton-Valentine toxin)

2. Enterotoxin

3. Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST)

4. Exfoliative (epidermolytic toxin)

.
Disease:

Diseases produced by Staphylococcus aureus

is studied under 2 groups:

A) Infections

B) Intoxications
A) INFECTIONS:

Mechanism of pathogenesis:

Cocci gain access to damaged skin, mucosal or

tissue site

Colonize by adhering to cells or extracellular matrix

Evade the host defense mechanisms and multiply

Cause tissue damage

Common Staphylococcal infections are:
1) Skin and soft tissue: Folliculitis, furuncle (boil), carbuncle,
styes, abscess, wound infections, impetigo, paronychia and
less often cellulitis.

Folliculitis
Furuncle
(boil)

Carbuncle
Styes Abscess
 Impetigo Paronychia

Wound infection Cellulitis

2) Musculoskeletal: Osteomyelitis, arthritis, bursitis,
pyomyositis.

osteomyelitis
3) Respiratory: Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis,
bronchopneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, rarely
pneumonia.
4) Central nervous system: Abscess, meningitis, intracranial
thrombophlebitis.
5) Endovascular: Bacteremia, septicemia, pyemia,
endocarditis.

Endocarditis
6) Urinary: Urinary tract infection.
B) INTOXICATIOINS:

The disease is caused by the bacterial exotoxins,

which are produced either in the infected host
or preformed in vitro.

There are 3 types-

1. Food poisoning
2. Toxic shock syndrome
3. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
1) Food poisoning:

 Enterotoxin is responsible for manifestations of

staphylococcal food poisoning.

 Eight types of enterotoxin are currently known, named

A, B, C1-3, D, E, and H.

 It usually occurs when preformed toxin is ingested with

contaminated food.

 The toxin acts directly on the autonomic nervous

system to cause the illness, rather than gut mucosa.
The common food items responsible are - milk and milk
products, meat, fish and ice cream.

Source of infection- food handler who is a carrier.

Incubation period- 2 to 6 hours.

Clinical symptoms- nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The illness is usually self limited, with recovery in a day or so.

2) Staphylococcal Toxic shock syndrome (STSS):

STSS is associated with infection of mucosal or sequestered

sites by TSST( formerly known as enterotoxin type F)
producing S.aureus.

It is fatal multisystem disease presenting with fever,

hypotension, myalgia, vomiting, diarrhoea, mucosal hyperemia
and erythematous rash which desquamates subsequently.
2 types of STSS known:

i) Menstrual associated STSS: Here colonization of S.aureus

occurs in the vagina of menstruating woman who uses highly
absorbent vaginal tampons.

ii) Non menstrual associated STSS: Here colonization of

S.aureus occurs in other sites like surgical wound.
3) Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
(SSSS):

Exfoliative toxin produced by S.aureus is responsible for this.

It is a skin disease in which outer layer of epidermis gets

separated from the underlying tissues.
Types of SSSS:

Severe form Milder form

In new born - Ritter’s disease - Pemphigus

neonatorum

In older patients - Toxic epidermal - Bullous

necrolysis impetigo
 Ritter’s disease Pemphigus neonatorum

Toxic epidermal necrolysis Bullous impetigo

LAB DIAGNOSIS:

Specimens collected: Depends on the type of infection.

Suppurative lesion- Pus,

Respiratory infection- Sputum,

Bacteremia & septicemia- Blood,

Food poisoning- Feces, vomit & the remains of suspected

food,

For the detection of carriers- Nasal swab.

Methods of examination:
I) Direct microscopy:

 Direct microscopy with

Gram stained smear is
useful in case of pus, where
cocci in clusters are seen.

 This is of no value for

specimen like sputum
where mixed flora are
normally present.
II) Culture:

a) Media used:

b) Cultural Characteristics:

c) Gram staining: Smears are

examined from the culture
plate and reveals Gram
positive cocci(1μm in
diameter) arranged in grape
like clusters.
d) Biochemical reactions:

III) Antibiotic sensitivity tests done as a guide to treatment.

IV) Bacteriophage typing is done for epidemiological purposes.

V) Serological tests are not useful.

TREATMENT:
Drug resistance is common.
Benzyl penicillin is the most effective antibiotic, if the strain
is sensitive.
Cloxacillin or Methicillin is used against
beta-lactamase producing strains.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains
have become common.
Vancomycin is used in treatment of infections with MRSA
strains.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:

Staphylococci are primary parasites of human beings and

animals.

Hospital infections caused by staphylococci deserve special

attention because of their frequency & they are caused by
strains resistant to various antibiotics.

Staphylococci are the common cause of postoperative wound

infection and other hospital cross infections.
PREVENTION:

Isolation & treatment of MRSA patients.

Detection of carriers among hospital staff, their isolation &

treatment.

Avoid indiscriminate usage of antibiotics.

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci( CoNS ):

Two species of coagulase negative

Staphylococci can cause human infections-

1. Staphylococcus epidermidis

2. Staphylococcus saprophyticus
S. Epidermidis:

It is a common cause of stitch abscesses.

It has predilection for growth on implanted foreign bodies

such as artificial valves, shunts, intravascular catheters and
prosthetic appliances leading to bacteraemia.

In persons with structural abnormalities of urinary tract, it

can cause cystitis.

Endocarditis may be caused, particularly in drug addicts.

S.saprophyticus:

It causes urinary tract infections, mostly in sexually active

young women.

The infection is symptomatic and may involve the upper

urinary tract also.

Men are infected much less often.

It is one of the few frequently isolated CoNS that is resistant

to Novobiocin.
 Distinguishing features of the major species of
staphylococcus

Characters S.aureus S.epidermididis S.saprophyticus

Coagulase + - -

Novobiocin Sensitive Sensitive Resistant

sensitivity

Acid from + - -
mannitol
fermentation
anaerobically

Phosphatase + + -
Novobiocin sensitivity test
THANK YOU