Staphylococcus saprophyticus: role in urinary tract infections in men

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, but etiological agents can vary by demographic.
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a known cause of UTIs, particularly in younger women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and significance of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in urinary tract infections among male patients.
• To determine if routine screening for Staphylococcus saprophyticus is warranted in male populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of urine culture data from a veterans hospital.
• Identification and quantification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in 9,314 urine specimens from male patients.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus saprophyticus was identified in only 3 urine specimens (from 2 individual patients).
• This represents a very low incidence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus-associated UTIs in the studied male cohort.

Conclusions:

• Staphylococcus saprophyticus is an uncommon cause of urinary tract infections in older men.
• Routine microbiological surveillance for Staphylococcus saprophyticus in hospitals serving primarily male populations is not recommended.