S. aureus
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Staphylococcus aureus |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
S. aureus stands for Staphylococcus aureus, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Bacterium carried in the nose or on the skin of about a third of people that causes boils, cellulitis, abscesses, pneumonia, bone infections, endocarditis and toxic shock. Methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) and susceptible strains (MSSA) are treated differently.
Example: S. aureus bacteremia: ID consult, repeat cultures, echocardiogram and at least 14 days of IV therapy.
Usage notes
"Aureus" is Latin for golden, after the color of its colonies; staphylo- comes from Greek for "bunch of grapes", describing clusters under the microscope. Infectious disease consultation lowers mortality in S. aureus bacteremia. Often called "staph" in everyday speech, though that word also covers other staphylococci.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- PPSV23 – 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
- PrEP – Pre-exposure prophylaxis
- RMSF – Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- RSV – Respiratory syncytial virus
- RVP – Respiratory viral panel
- RZV – Recombinant zoster vaccine
- SARS – Severe acute respiratory syndrome
- SARS-CoV-2 – Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SSTI – Skin and soft tissue infection
- STD – Sexually transmitted disease
- STEC – Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
- STI – Sexually transmitted infection
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.