| carbuncle |
A deep staphylococcal abscess joining several neighboring hair follicles. |
| coagulase |
A
plasma-clotting enzyme secreted by Staphylococcus aureus. It contributes to
virulence and is involved in forming a fibrin wall that surrounds staphylococcal lesions. |
| enterotoxins |
A bacterial toxin that specifically targets intestinal mucous membrane cells.
Enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus
are typical sources. |
| erysipelas |
An acute,
sharply defined inflammatory disease specifically caused by hemolytic Streptococcus. The
eruption is limited to the skin but can be complicated by serious systemic symptoms. |
| erythrogenic
toxin |
An exotoxin produced by lysogenized group A strains of b-hemolytic
streptococci that is responsible for the severe fever and rash of scarlet fever in the
nonimmune individual. Also called a pyrogenic toxin. |
| exfoliative toxin |
A poisonous
substance that causes superficial cells of an epithelium to detach and be shed. Example:
staphylococcal exfoliatin. Also called an epidermolytic toxin. |
| furuncle |
A boil; a localized pyogenic infection arising from a hair follicle. |
| hemolysin |
Any
biological agent that is capable of destroying red blood cells and causing the release of
hemoglobin. Many bacterial pathogens produce exotoxins that act as hemolysins. |
| leukocidin |
A heat-labile substance formed by some pyogenic cocci that impairs and sometimes
lyses leukocytes. |
| petechiae |
Minute
hemorrhagic spots in the skin that range from pinpoint- to pinhead-sized. |
| pneumococcus |
Common name for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the major cause of bacterial
pneumonia. |
