Does Staphylococcus Aureus Have A Distinctive Odor?

Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 8 Sep 2015 Answered on

Thu, 1 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Staphyloccus aureus: Does it have a distinctive odor?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No distinctive odour

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query.
There is no distinctive odour of staphylococcus aureus.
Odour is due to mixed infection like staph along with some gram negative bacteria or fungus.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (17 hours later)

Do you have a peer reviewed literature reference for your answer to the question?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No literature

Detailed Answer:
Hello
You mean to say there should be literature on smell of staph.
Well no such literature is published.
I m mentioning with personal experience.
I get more than 50 cases of staph infection daily.
I am seeing these patients for years.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar