What are other important S. aureus exotoxins and their mechanisms of action?
Coagulase
Activates clotting around S. aureus, thereby preventing phagocytosis
Staphylokinase
Lyses thrombi and prevents body from "walling-off" an infection
Hyaluronidase
Lyses the connective tissue matrix facilitating spread
Hemolysin and leukocidin
Lyses red blood cells (RBCs) (therefore β-hemolytic) and white blood cells (WBCs)
β-Lactamase
Cleaves penicillin family (ie, β-lactam) drugs
Mnemonic:
Toxins make S. aureus a Body LEECH (TSST, Staphylokinase, β-lactamase, Leukocidin, Enterotoxin, Exfoliatin, Coagulase, and Hemolysin/Hyaluronidase)