What illnesses are caused by S. aureus?
S. aureus causes abscesses, boils, and it can infect wounds – both accidental wounds such as grazes and deliberate wounds such as those made for a drip or during surgery. These are called local infections. It may then spread into the body and cause serious infections such as bacteraemia (blood poisoning). S. aureus can also cause food poisoning. 3. How is S. aureus infection treated? Infections caused by many varieties of S. aureus are easily treated with antibiotics such as some types of penicillin and erythromycin. 4. What is MRSA? MRSA stands for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a variety of S. aureus that is resistant to meticillin (a type of penicillin) and to some of the other antibiotics that are usually used to treat infections caused by S. aureus. 5. Is MRSA treatable? MRSA is no more virulent than other varieties of S. aureus, but it is much more difficult to treat because the range of antibiotics which are effective against it is reduced. 6. Who is at risk o
