Objective

You will become familiar with the clinical presentation and diagnosis of infections caused by the most common and clinically significant Gram positive cocci. You will understand that the immune status of the host and the pathogenic mechanisms of the organism work together to create the clinic, disease.

To achieve these goals you should be able to:

• Describe the mechanisms by which staphylococci cause disease
• Describe the mechanism by which beta hemolytic streptococci invade and cause disease
• Know the where staphylococci and streptococci are found in nature
• Know the effect decreased immunity has on the predisposition of the host to infection

Reading Assignment

Sherris Medical Microbiology, 3rd ea., 1994. Ryan et al. (ed)., Appleton and Lange, Norwalk, Conn., pp. 253-283.

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Send comments to Dr. A.J. Chandrasekhar M.D.