மருத்துவ தொற்று நோய்கள்: திறந்த அணுகல்

Small Colony Variants of Staphylococcus aureus and their Diagnostic Methods: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Esayas Tekle, Yonas Adisu, Sisay Teferi and Gemechu Tiruneh

One of the most well-known human pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, causes infections ranging from life-threatening conditions including sepsis, necrotizing pneumonia and, endocarditis to benign superficial skin infections. It was formerly thought to be an extracellular bacterium. However, it has been demonstrated that this pathogen can live and dwell inside cells. These features allow the pathogen to survive periods of antibiotic treatment or pressure from the immune system of the host and further enable it to start the infection once again after the environmental stress declines. Such characteristics are considered properties of Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants. Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants are often difficult to recognize due to the fact that they are endowed with unusual metabolic, physiological, and morphological characteristics that will cause difficulties for the routine diagnostic laboratory. As a result, they are associated with persistent infections.