Staphylococcus aureus: a continuing problem.

Caution is required in managing any immunocompromised host, not only because these patients will be carriers, but because they are also very susceptible to infections with S. aureus. These hosts are not candidates for short-course antibiotic therapy, and catheters should be removed when S. aureus bacteremia is diagnosed. The S. aureus cell wall is a major determinant of the host response and the pathogenicity of this organism. The clinician should recognize the three most important toxins produced by S. aureus: exfoliatin, TSST-1, and enterotoxin-B. Toxic shock syndrome can occur in any host, not just menstruating females, and the clinician should be very thoughtful when dealing with any Staphylococcus aureus infections arising from the use of a catheter.