Staphylococcus aureus [Gk, staphyle + kokkos + L, aurum, gold] , a species of Staphylococcus that produces a golden pigment with some color variations and is commonly found on the skin or nose of healthy people. It is also responsible for a number of pyogenic infections, such as boils, carbuncles, and abscesses. S. aureus infections have become increasingly more difficult to treat because of the development of resistance to penicillin-related antibiotics. These bacteria are called methicillin-resistant S. aureus or MRSAs.
