Staphylococci remain the most important cause of hospital-acquired infections in the U.S. and MRSA has become the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infection in many parts of the world. There is now a much greater understanding of the physiology and evolution of the staphylococci and this new edition reflects the rapid advancements in knowledge about this pathogen and provides a comprehensive review from both clinical and basic science perspectives. The first section addresses the basic...