What is Staphylococcus aureus?
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium (germ). It is often just called 'S.aureus' or 'staph'. S. aureus bacteria are often found on the skin and in the nose of healthy people. These people are called S. aureus 'carriers'. In healthy people who are carriers, S. aureus is usually harmless.
However, S. aureus bacteria sometimes invade the skin to cause infection. This is more likely if you have a cut or graze which can allow bacteria to get under the surface of the skin. S. aureus is the cause of skin infections such as boils, pimples, impetigo, skin abscesses, and is a common cause of wound infections.
In some people, S. aureus can sometimes get into the bloodstream and travel to internal parts of the body to cause more serious infections. For example, blood poisoning (septicaemia), lung infection (pneumonia), bone infection (osteomyelitis), heart valve infection (endocarditis), etc. These serious infections are more likely to occur in people who are already unwell or debilitated, or who have a poor immune system. These infections need to be treated with antibiotics.
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