Urinary tract infections in young adult women caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus
R. H. Latham, K. Running and W. E. Stamm
We evaluated and compared 81 urinary tract infections (UTIs) with
Staphylococcus saprophyticus occurring in 72 college women with Escherichia
coli UTIs. During the 14-month study period, S saprophyticus was the second
most common cause of UTIs, accounting for 11% of the total. Staphylococcus
saprophyticus infections occurred more frequently during the late summer
and early fall. Age, history of previous UTI, signs and symptoms of
infection, and findings on urinalysis were similar in patients with S
saprophyticus and E coli infections. Nine (41%) of 22 S saprophyticus
infections were localized to the upper urinary tract by the antibody-coated
bacteria technique compared with 18 (16%) of 115 infections with E coli (P
= .01). Rectal, vaginal, and urethral colonization with S saprophyticus was
associated with UTI caused by these organisms, suggesting that their
pathogenesis resembles that of E coli UTIs. In vitro susceptibility testing
showed almost uniform sensitivity of S saprophyticus to most antimicrobials
used to treat UTIs, but recurrent infections occurred in six of the 72
women despite adequate therapy. Physicians and microbiologists must be
aware that S saprophyticus is an important cause of UTIs in young women.
