Staphylococcus saprophyticus , or S. saprophyticus , is a gram-positive bacterium that can be found in the genital system of men and women, without causing any signs or symptoms. However, when there is an imbalance in the genital microbiota, whether due to stress, food, poor hygiene or diseases, there may be a proliferation of this bacterium and symptoms of urinary tract infection, especially in young and sexually active women.
This bacterium has proteins on its surface that allow it to adhere more easily to the cells of the urinary tract, causing infection when there are conditions that favor its proliferation.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of infection by S. saprophyticus arise mainly when the person has a weakened immune system or when intimate hygiene is not performed correctly, favoring the development of bacteria in the genital region and leading to the appearance of symptoms of urinary infection.
If you suspect you may have a urinary tract infection, mark the symptoms in the following test:
- 1. Pain or burning sensation when urinating Yes No
- 2. Frequent and sudden urge to urinate in small quantities Yes No
- 3. Feeling of not being able to empty your bladder Yes No
- 4. Feeling of heaviness or discomfort in the bladder area Yes No
- 5. Cloudy or bloody urine Yes No
- 6. Persistent low fever (between 37.5º and 38º) Yes No
It is important that the infection is identified and treated correctly, otherwise the bacteria may remain in the kidneys for longer, resulting in pyelonephritis or nephrolithiasis, compromising the functioning of the kidneys, or reaching the bloodstream and reaching other organs, characterizing septicemia. Understand what septicemia is.
Despite being less frequent in men, infection by S. saprophyticus can result in epididymitis, urethritis and prostatitis, and it is important that the diagnosis is made correctly and the treatment started soon after.
How to diagnose
The diagnosis of Staphylococcus saprophyticus infection must be made by the gynecologist, in the case of women, or urologist, in men, through the analysis of the symptoms presented by the person and the result of the microbiological examination.
Usually, the doctor requests a type 1 urine test, also called EAS, and urine culture, which aims to identify the microorganism responsible for the infection. In the laboratory, the urine sample is cultured so that the microorganism is isolated. After isolation, several biochemical tests are carried out to allow the identification of the bacteria.
S. saprophyticus is considered a negative coagulase, because when the coagulase test is performed, there is no reaction, unlike other species of Staphylococcus . In addition to the coagulase test, it is necessary to do the Novobiocin test in order to differentiate S. saprophyticus from S. epidermidis , with S. saprophyticus resistant to Novobiocin, which is an antibiotic that can be used in the treatment of infection by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus . Learn all about Staphylococcus .
Treatment for S. saprophyticus
The treatment for S. saprophyticus is established by the doctor when the person has symptoms, and the use of antibiotics is recommended for about 7 days. The antibiotic indicated depends on the result of the antibiogram, which shows which antibiotics the bacterium is sensitive and resistant to, and it is possible to indicate the most appropriate medication.
Usually, the doctor recommends treatment with Amoxicillin or Amoxicillin associated with Clavulanate, however when the bacteria is resistant to these antibiotics or when the person does not respond well to treatment, the use of Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim or Cephalexin may be indicated.
