What is true about Staphylococcus?

Staphylococcus is classified as a Gram-Positive bacterium due to its thick peptidoglycan cell wall, which retains the crystal violet stain used during the Gram staining procedure. This characteristic differentiates it from Gram-Negative bacteria, which have a thinner peptidoglycan layer and do not retain the crystal violet stain, appearing pink after the counterstaining process.

Additionally, Staphylococcus is primarily spherical in shape, referred to as cocci, which distinguishes it from rod-shaped bacteria. It is also important to note that Staphylococcus is a type of bacterium and not a virus; viruses are fundamentally different microorganisms that require a host cell to replicate. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for identifying Staphylococcus in clinical and laboratory settings, as well as for implementing appropriate infection control measures.