Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus epidermidis (pronunciation: staf-uh-lo-kok-uh s ep-i-dur-mi-dis) is a species of bacteria that belongs to the genus Staphylococcus. It is part of the normal human flora, typically the skin flora, and less commonly the mucosal flora. It is a facultative anaerobic bacteria.
Etymology
The name Staphylococcus comes from the Greek staphyle, meaning a bunch of grapes, and kokkos, meaning berry, and is a reference to the fact that the bacteria often appear in grape-like clusters when viewed under a microscope. The species name epidermidis is derived from the Greek epi, meaning on, and derma, meaning skin, indicating that this species is a common component of the skin flora.
Characteristics
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a Gram-positive bacterium, and one of over 40 species belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. It is part of the normal human flora. It can also be found in the environment and in animals. Although it is not usually pathogenic, patients with compromised immune systems are at risk of developing infection. These infections are generally hospital-acquired.
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a facultative anaerobe, which means it can grow without oxygen. It is also coagulase-negative, which distinguishes it from the pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus.
Related Terms
- Staphylococcus
- Gram-positive bacteria
- Facultative anaerobe
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci
- Staphylococcus aureus
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Wikipedia's article - Staphylococcus epidermidis
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