Epidemiological data from Western Australia regarding Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infections (UTIs) was collected over a 12 month period. Eighty-four percent of S. saprophyticus UTIs occurred in females 13-40 years of age and S. saprophyticus was the second most frequent cause of UTIs in this age group (15.2%) after Escherichia coli (70.8%). Although the monthly incidence fluctuated, no seasonality of S. saprophyticus UTIs could be demonstrated. The proportion of S. saprophyticus UTIs in pregnant women (6.5%) compared with non-pregnant women (15.2%) appeared reduced, however, this reduction was not statistically significant. Finally, while S. saprophyticus was isolated at a frequency of 4.6% from the genital tract of females aged 13-40 years, it could not be isolated from the genital tract of females aged > 40 years, nor from the genital tract of males aged 13-40 years, suggesting a possible reservoir of infection. These data imply a relationship between female hormonal status and S. saprophyticus UTIs which requires further investigation.

The cell-surface hydrophobicity of 100 urinary isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, cultured from symptomatic females in the general population, was assessed using a two-phase aqueous:hydrocarbon system. Relatively strong cell-surface hydrophobicity was exhibited by 79 isolates using the criteria employed, while only 2 of the remaining 21 isolates failed to demonstrate any detectable hydrophobicity. Cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a virulence factor of S. saprophyticus, important in adherence of the organism to uroepithelia. Additionally, the data support the concept that cell-surface hydrophobicity may be a useful predictor of clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from clinical sources.

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