Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2009 Jun;12(2):62-66. 10.5145/KJCM.2009.12.2.62.

Frequency and Clinical Characteristics of Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus

• Kim SJ
• Kwon O
• Uh Y
• Hwang GY
• Jang IH
• Yoon KJ
• Kim HY

• KMID: 1469954
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2009.12.2.62

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus saprophyticus is the second most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in young women. As little is known about the incidence of UTIs caused by this organism in Korea, we examined its frequency and clinical characteristics.
METHODS
We analyzed the frequency of S. saprophyticus among organisms isolated from urine specimens in Wonju Christian Hospital from July 1996 to June 2008 and reviewed clinical characteristics retrospectively.
RESULTS
Of 24,277 strains isolated from urine specimens during the past 12 years, 21 (0.09%) were S. saprophyticus. Outpatients were more common in the S. saprophyticus group than in all patients group (12 of 21, 57% vs 5,098 of 24,277, 21%). The incidence of S. saprophyticus in women was the highest in the group of 15 to 34 years of age. Monthly distributions of isolates were almost constant in all patient groups, while 16 of 21 (76%) cases of the S. saprophyticus group occurred in summer and fall (June to November).
CONCLUSION
The fequencies of S. saprophyticus among organisms isolated from urine specimens in all patient groups and women were 0.09% and 0.17%, respectively, and are much lower than those in other countries. However, we need further studies to examine the prevalence of S. saprophyticus UTIs in other regions of this country.

Keyword

Urinary tract infection; Staphylococcus saprophyticus

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Outpatients
Prevalence
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Urinary Tract
Urinary Tract Infections