Final answer:
Complications such as septic arthritis, phlebitis, and infective endocarditis are common in Staphylococcus aureus infections, with diagnosis often confirmed by persistent bacteremia. Purulent skin infections like folliculitis are also associated with S. aureus. Due to its resistance, including MRSA, S. aureus infections can be severe and require careful medical attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complications are common in patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. Notable examples include septic arthritis, phlebitis, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and on rare occasions, retinitis. The diagnosis of these conditions is often suspected when there is persistent bacteremia or an unchanged clinical status despite adequate treatment. S. aureus is notorious for its capacity to cause community-acquired as well as nosocomial infections partly because many individuals are asymptomatic carriers.
Staphylococcal infections can range from superficial purulent skin infections, like folliculitis, furuncles, and more severe conditions such as carbuncles to life-threatening diseases such as toxic shock syndrome. Specifically, purulent skin infections often present in association with S. aureus, which produces leukocidins that are toxic to white blood cells.
When medical intervention introduces bacteria such as S. aureus or when there is an injury, it can result in various severe infections, including sepsis, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis. S. aureus infections are particularly challenging due to increasing rates of antibiotic resistance, exemplified by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.
In severe cases, S. aureus can cause toxic shock syndrome (TSS) due to the production of a superantigen, and it also has the capacity to cause conditions such as acute pericarditis. In a hospital setting, even less virulent Staphylococcus species like S. epidermidis can cause serious infections if transferred to medical devices inserted into the body.
Collectively, these complications and the adaptive resistance mechanisms of S. aureus underscore the need for proper diagnosis, treatment, and infection control practices in healthcare settings.