This volume offers a comprehensive overview of basic and applied aspects of Staphylococcus aureus, which is one of the most important human pathogens. It includes sixteen chapters that address the microbiology and immunology of S. aureus, the pathology of its key manifestations, and the current standard of care. Further, it reviews cutting-edge advances in alternative therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to antibiotics. All chapters were written by respected experts in the field – presenting recent findings on a diverse range of aspects, they are nonetheless interlinked. As such, the book is a must-read for all researchers, clinicians and technicians engaged in basic or applied science work involving S. aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus provides information on food borne outbreaks of disease and their impact on human health. It is for anyone interested in the features of the pathogen, and its food safety aspects, as well as its prevalence and possible control and eradication options. This is a practical reference for those in the food industry, but also includes some theoretical information useful for advising. The book introduces detailed features and molecular biology of the pathogen, as well as selective methods of detection, prevention and eradication essential for research. It covers methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus for food related industries, information on genetic lineages, cell wall components, cell division machinery, molecular characterization, and capillary electrophoresis for detecting and characterizing staphylococcus aureus. - Includes information on established and novel antibiotic agents for experimental studies and methods of control and eradication - Presents use cases of outbreak studies in molecular and cell biology - Provides summary points of detection methods and applicability of those methods to other foodborne pathogens - Covers the Staphylococcus aureus' mode of transmission, detection, biology and impact on foodborne illness
This third edition volume expands on the previous editions with an update on the latest techniques used for the detection, genotyping, and investigating pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo. The methods covered in this book mostly focus on routine clinical diagnosis, surveillance, research, and practice for treatment of patients infected by multi-drug resistant S. aureus. The book also covers the epidemiology of MRSA, molecular typing approaches, clinical treatment of MRSA infections, and animal models of drug discovery. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Informative and cutting-edge, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Protocols: Cutting-Edge Technologies and Advancements, Third Edition is a valuable resource for researchers looking to set up new methods to study S. aureus, and will also be very useful for technicians and scientists working on other bacterial pathogens.
Staphylococcus was first recognized as a human pathogen in 1880 and was named for its grape cluster-like appearance. In 1884, Staphylococcus aureus was identified and named for its vibrant golden color, which was later found to be the result of golden toxin production. Here, experts examine in-depth patterns of S. aureus colonization and exposures in humans, mammals, and birds that have led to the development of various clinical diseases. The mode of transmission of S. aureus and different methods for its detection in different samples are defined. Conventional antibiotic options to treat this aggressive, multifaceted, and readily adaptable pathogen are becoming limited. Alternative, novel chemotherapeutics to target S. aureus are discussed in the pages within, including herbal medicines, bee products, and modes of delivery.
This book primarily covers the general description of foodborne pathogens and their mechanisms of pathogenesis, control and prevention, and detection strategies, with easy-to-comprehend illustrations. The book is an essential resource for food microbiology graduate or undergraduate students, microbiology professionals, and academicians involved in food microbiology, food safety, and food defense-related research or teaching. This new edition covers the significant progress that has been made since 2008 in understanding the pathogenic mechanism of some common foodborne pathogens, and the host-pathogen interaction. Foodborne and food-associated zoonotic pathogens, responsible for high rates of mortality and morbidity, are discussed in detail. Chapters on foodborne viruses, parasites, molds and mycotoxins, and fish and shellfish are expanded. Additionally, chapters on opportunistic and emerging foodborne pathogens including Nipah virus, Ebola virus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Brucella abortus, Clostridium difficile, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Plesiomonas shigelloides have been added. The second edition contains more line drawings, color photographs, and hand-drawn illustrations.
This volume details the phenotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus, with a focus on in vitro and ex vivo methodologies. The chapters in this book cover topics such as in vitro assessment of classical S. aureus virulence attributes; quantifying promoter activity using a S. aureus codon-optimized lacZ plasmid; biologically-relevant growth environments; metabolic and stress resistance assays; and in vivo and ex vivo models of host-pathogen interaction. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and authoritative, Staphylococcus aureus: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for anyone interested in this fascinating and developing field.
Staphylococcus aureus is resident in skin and nasal membranes with a formidable pathogenic potential to cause a variety of community and hospital acquired infections. This authoritative survey covers the impact of genome sequences into our understanding of MRSA and MSSA pathogenesis. World specialists from America, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the UK contribute knowledge and experience which will be welcome to researchers, practitioners and postgraduate students of immunology, microbiology, bacteriology and pharmacology worldwide. - An authoritative survey that covers the impact of genome sequences into the understanding of MRSA and MSSA pathogenesis - World specialists from America, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the UK contribute knowledge and experience
Staphylococci remain the most important cause of hospital-acquiredinfections in the U.S. and MRSA has become the most common cause ofskin and soft tissue infection in many parts of the world. There is now a much greater understanding of the physiology andevolution of the staphylococci and this new edition reflects therapid advancements in knowledge about this pathogen and provides acomprehensive review from both clinical and basic scienceperspectives. The first section addresses the basic biology of thestaphylococci, their molecular genetics, host defenses and hostevasion, virulence determinants, mechanisms of antibioticresistance, and laboratory techniques. The second section dealswith epidemiology, and the third section provides an overview ofthe varied clinical manifestations of human staphylococcalinfections. The fourth section covers prevention and treatment ofthese often life-threatening infections. Written by experts from around the globe, this book is essentialreading for all clinicians and basic scientists studying thestaphylococci.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged as a clinically relevant human pathogen more than five decades ago. The virulent bacterium was first detected in hospitals and other health care facilities where vulnerable hosts, frequent exposure to the selective pressure of intensive antimicrobial therapy, and the necessity for invasive procedures created a favorable environment for dissemination. MRSA emerged as an important cause of healthcare-associated infections, particularly central line-associated bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical site infection (SSI). Despite the adoption of infection-control measures, the incidence of MRSA infection at most U.S. hospitals steadily increased for many years, but it is now decreasing. While the decrease in the incidence of MRSA infection may be due to efforts to screen for MRSA carriage, it may also be due to secular trends (such as efforts to improve patient safety) and to confounders (such as efforts to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics and to decrease healthcare-associated infections in general, including catheter-associated bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and SSI). A number of analyses suggest that MRSA infections are associated with increased mortality and cost of care when compared with those due to strains that are susceptible to methicillin. Even the availability of newer pharmaceutical agents with specific activity against MRSA has not ameliorated the challenge of caring for patients with MRSA. The widespread use of these agents has been limited, in part due to toxicity, cost, and uncertainty as to optimal indications. The management and control of MRSA have been further complicated by dramatic changes in the epidemiology of transmission and infection observed over the past two decades. Specifically, S. aureus strains resistant to methicillin, once exclusively linked to hospital care, have increasingly been detected among patients in the community who lack conventional risk factors for MRSA infection. Community-acquired MRSA has been linked to outbreaks of infection in hospitals and health care facilities. Conventional strategies for the control of MRSA have focused on the prevention of spread from patient to patient. The effectiveness of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of MRSA has been demonstrated in observational studies in which hand hygiene promotion campaigns were associated with subsequent reductions in the incidence of MRSA among hospitalized patients. While hand hygiene remains important in the effort to control MRSA transmission, the continued spread of the pathogen after its initial introduction in most facilities has prompted efforts to identify additional strategies. The use of contact isolation-including the donning of gowns and gloves when interacting with patients colonized or infected with MRSA and the assignment of such patients to single rooms or to a room with a group of affected patients-has been widely promoted and adopted. Such isolation precautions now are the centerpiece of most authoritative guidelines for MRSA control. Despite the broad consensus associated with the use of contact isolation for MRSA prevention, the specific evidence in support of this practice remains limited and indirect. The objective of this review was to synthesize comparative studies that examined the benefits or harms of screening for MRSA carriage in the inpatient or outpatient settings. The review examined MRSA-screening strategies applied to all hospitalized or ambulatory patients, as well as screening strategies applied to selected inpatient or outpatient populations, and compared them with no screening or with screening of selected patient populations. The review evaluated MRSA-screening strategies that included screening with or without isolation and with or without attempted eradication/decolonization.
