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Staphylococcus Saprophyticus Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections are inflammations of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, bladder and urethra. They are caused by bacteria that are normally present on the skin, in the intestinal tract or in the stool. The most common cause of urinary tract infections is E. coli, but they can also be caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

  1. Types of Urinary Tract Infections

    • Urinary tract infections occur when any part of the urinary tract is inflamed. The most common type of urinary tract infection is urethritis, or inflammation of the urethra, the tube through which urine is expressed from the bladder. Urethritis can worsen and develop into cystitis, or a bladder infection. If cystitis is not treated, it can develop into pyelonephritis, which is infection of the kidneys and ureters. Of the three types of urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis is the most serious and presents the most complications.

    Staphylococcus Saprophyticus

    • Regardless of what kind of urinary tract infection you have, they usually start when bacteria are introduced into the urethra. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a species of staphylococcus bacteria, so it is normally found on the skin. It can easily be spread into the urethra through sexual intercourse or normal touching. Most of the time, your immune system deals with foreign bacteria, but when it fails, the bacteria can begin to reproduce and spread, causing infection.

    Symptoms

    • Your Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infection can show itself in several ways. It usually makes you want to urinate more frequently. Even though you have the urge to urinate, you may notice that little or no urine comes out. The urine that does come out may be smelly, dark or contain blood. In some cases, you may experience a burning sensation when you urinate. Painful cramps and burning in your pelvis or lower back are common symptoms, too.

    Diagnosis

    • Most diagnoses of Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infections begin with a urine sample. Your health-care provider will analyze your urine for bacteria. Urine is usually sterile, so the presence of bacteria is an indication that something is wrong. To identify the particular strain of bacteria that is causing your urinary tract infection, the bacteria in your urine will be grown in a laboratory setting. In some cases, it is even tested to gauge its reaction to certain medications.

    Treatment

    • Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infections are often treated with prescription antibiotics. Antibiotics such as fluxloxacillin, trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin have all been found to be effective against Staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria. However, these bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic Novobiocin, so it will be no help for these types of infections. Always tell your health-care provider about any allergies you may have or any other drugs you may be taking. This may change his decision about what medication to prescribe to you. You will start to feel relief from your symptoms after a short time on antibiotics. You should still take your prescription until it is completely gone to avoid developing recurring urinary tract infections or antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains.

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