Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management

Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul;28(3):603-61. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00134-14.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that causes a wide range of clinical infections. It is a leading cause of bacteremia and infective endocarditis as well as osteoarticular, skin and soft tissue, pleuropulmonary, and device-related infections. This review comprehensively covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management of each of these clinical entities. The past 2 decades have witnessed two clear shifts in the epidemiology of S. aureus infections: first, a growing number of health care-associated infections, particularly seen in infective endocarditis and prosthetic device infections, and second, an epidemic of community-associated skin and soft tissue infections driven by strains with certain virulence factors and resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. In reviewing the literature to support management strategies for these clinical manifestations, we also highlight the paucity of high-quality evidence for many key clinical questions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / epidemiology
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / pathology
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / therapy
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • beta-Lactam Resistance / genetics

Substances

  • Virulence Factors