Staphylococcus aureus also known as staph infection is a group of bacteria that can cause a number of diseases as a result of infections of various tissues in the body. (Stoppler, 2014) S. aureus has long been recognized as one of the most important disease-causing bacteria in humans. It is the main cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), boils and cellulitis. Although most staph infections are not serious, S. aureus can cause serious infections such as blood infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections. (Sheet, 2014) People at risk of developing S. aureus include newborns, breastfeeding women, and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, vascular disease, and lung disease. Injecting drug users, those with skin lesions or disorders, intravenous catheters, surgical incisions, and those with weakened immune systems due to illness or as a result of immunosuppressant drugs are all at increased risk of developing staph infections. (Stoppler, 2014)Many healthy people can carry Staphylococcus aureus on their skin and in their nose without getting sick. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus causes damage when the skin is punctured or broken. It enters the wound and causes infections, which lead to other health problems. The infected area becomes swollen, red, and painful. Infections caused by S. aureus are abscesses and cellulitis. The abscess looks like a boil and is pus-filled, red, painful, and swollen, and the skin surrounding the abscess may be warm to the touch. Cellulitis is an infection of the underlying layers of the skin. It results from a scratch or cut in the skin that allows bacteria to enter, although no lesion may appear...... middle of paper...... during the day. Clean hands can prevent germs from spreading from one person to another throughout an entire community. Hand washing can save many lives. Reference page Baorto, EP (2014, 3 29). Medscape. Retrieved from emedcine.medscape.com.Cosgrove, S.E. (2014, 3 29). John Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from www.hopkinsguides.com.Edmond, M. B. (2014, 3 29). Retrieved from www.md.ucl.ac.be.Eppes, S.C. (2014, 3 29). Children's health. Retrieved from kidshealth.org.Sheet, M.D. (2014, 3 29). Moncinota Health Department. Retrieved from www.health.state.mn.us.Stoppler, M. C. (2014, 3 29). Medcinenet. Retrieved from Medcinenet.com.Reference PageHardy, J. (2014, 3 29). Retrieved from www.hardydiagnostics.com.Semmelweis Socity International. (2014, 3 29). Retrieved from semmelweis.org.Young-Adams, A.P. (2011). The medical assistant. San Lous.