Which description best characterizes Staphylococci?

Which description best characterizes Staphylococci?

• A. A virus that infects bacteria.
• B. Groups of bacteria that form bunches or grape-like clusters, causing abscesses, pustules, and boils.
• C. A type of fungus that decomposes dead tissue.
• D. A protozoan parasite.

Answer: (C)

Staphylococci are bacteria that tend to clump together in grape-like clusters, which is a hallmark seen under the microscope. This grouping helps explain why infections they cause look like pus-filled abscesses, pustules, and boils on the skin—the organisms invade hair follicles and surrounding tissue and trigger inflammatory pus formation. They are not viruses, fungi, or protozoa, so descriptions calling them those organisms would be describing something completely different. The best match is the description that identifies them as groups of bacteria forming grape-like clusters and causing skin infections such as abscesses and boils.

Staphylococci are bacteria that tend to clump together in grape-like clusters, which is a hallmark seen under the microscope. This grouping helps explain why infections they cause look like pus-filled abscesses, pustules, and boils on the skin—the organisms invade hair follicles and surrounding tissue and trigger inflammatory pus formation. They are not viruses, fungi, or protozoa, so descriptions calling them those organisms would be describing something completely different. The best match is the description that identifies them as groups of bacteria forming grape-like clusters and causing skin infections such as abscesses and boils.