Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus is a taxonomic genus of bacteria with over 30 species, which are perhaps best known for causing diseases that are commonly known as staph infections.

Staph infection
Staph infections are any of a number of diseases that are caused by unwanted growths of Staphylococcus bacteria. Most staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus and include skin infections, pneumonia. food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, and blood poisoning (bacteremia).

Skin infections are the most common. They can look like pimples or boils. They may be red, swollen and painful, and sometimes have pus or other drainage. They can turn into impetigo, which turns into a crust on the skin, or cellulitis, a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot. Anyone can get a staph skin infection. You are more likely to get one if you have a cut or scratch, or have contact with a person or surface that has staph bacteria. The best way to prevent staph is to keep hands and wounds clean. Most staph skin infections are easily treated with antibiotics or by draining the infection. Some staph bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

Species

 * S. arlettae
 * S. aureus
 * S. auricularis
 * S. capitis
 * S. caprae
 * S. carnosus
 * S. caseolyticus
 * S. chromogenes
 * S. cohnii
 * S. delphini
 * S. epidermidis
 * S. equorum
 * S. felis
 * S. fleurettii
 * S. gallinarum
 * S. haemolyticus
 * S. hominis
 * S. hyicus
 * S. intermedius
 * S. kloosii
 * S. lactis
 * S. lentis
 * S. lugdunensis
 * S. lutrae
 * S. muscae
 * S. pasteuri
 * S. pettenkoferi
 * S. piscifermentans
 * S. saprophyticus
 * S. schleiferi
 * S. sciuri
 * S. simulans
 * S. succinus
 * S. vitulus
 * S. warneri
 * S. xylosus