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Staphylococcus aureus: a guide for the perplexed

Paul D R Johnson, Benjamin P Howden and Catherine M Bennett
Med J Aust 2006; 184 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00284.x
Published online: 17 April 2006

The differences between community-acquired and health care-associated MRSA explained

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important bacterial pathogens globally. About a quarter of us carry one or other strain at any one time, and, if we develop an infection, our own colonising strain is likely to be responsible.1 All clinicians, from urban general practitioners to remote-area nurses, encounter S. aureus infections. In hospitals, S. aureus is responsible for most surgical-site infections, and their control poses a major challenge.


  • 1 Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC.
  • 2 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.
  • 3 Department of Public Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: Paul.Johnson@austin.org.au

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