A patient presents to her physician with what looks like an infected spider bite on her arm. The physician submits a swab of the drainage from the bite. The culture results demonstrate a catalase positive, coagulase positive gram positive cocci that also has the mecA gene present. Rather than an infected spider bite, the patient probably had

Question

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The presence of a catalase positive, coagulase positive gram positive cocci with the mecA gene indicates the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This bacterium is commonly associated with skin and soft tissue infections such as furuncles (boils), which can be mistaken for spider bites.

A Patient Presents to Her Physician with What Looks Like