Auburn University Sep 4 2025 Imagine a child with eczema who scratches a patch of irritated skin. A tiny opening forms, invisible to the eye. Into that breach slips a common bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus . For many people, the bacteria would remain harmless. But in someone with a weakened skin barrier, the microbe can cling tightly, multiply, and trigger an infection that is difficult to control. In severe cases, staph spreads beyond the skin and becomes life-threatening. Resistant strains