S. aureus causes a wide variety of infections, ranging from wound infection to pneumonia. Treatment of S. aureus infection with penicillin is often complicated by the
Staphylococci are Gram-positive, non-sporeforming cocci. Clinically, their antibiotic resistance poses major problems. Many strains produce 13-lactamase (penicillinase), an enzyme that destroys penicillin by opening the lactam ring. Drug resistance, mediated by plasmids, may be transferred by transduction.
Inability of penicillin to penetrate the membrane of S. aureus
Production of penicillinase by S. aureus
Production of penicillin acetylase by S. aureus
Lack of penicillin binding sites on S. aureus