Detection by qPCR of all strains of the species Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin infections (e.g.boils), respiratory disease (e.g.sinusitis), and food poisoning. Disease-associated strains often promote infections by producing potent protein toxins and expressing cell-surface proteins that bind and inactivate antibodies. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant forms of pathogenic S. aureus (e.g.MRSA) is a worldwide problem in clinical medicine.