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Image of Staphylococcus

Image of Staphylococcus

Description:

This 2005 scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted numerous clumps of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, commonly referred to by the acronym, MRSA; Magnified 9560x.

Recently recognized outbreaks, or clusters of MRSA in community settings have been associated with strains that have some unique microbiologic and genetic properties, compared with the traditional hospital-based MRSA strains, which suggests some biologic properties, e.g., virulence factors like toxins, may allow the community strains to spread more easily, or cause more skin disease. A common strain named USA300-0114 has caused many such outbreaks in the United States. See PHIL 7821 for a black and white version of this micrograph.
Created: 2005

Source Information

license
cc-publicdomain
photographer
Janice Haney Car
provider
Public Health Image Library