Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria

Abstract

One hundred twenty-seven episodes of<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>bacteriuria were reviewed retrospectively in two hospitals to establish the rate of occurrence, clinical importance, and associated predisposing factors.<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>was an infrequent urinary isolate, and accounted for only about 1% of all positive urine cultures. Although almost all cases in a Veterans Hospital occurred in elderly men, episodes in a community nospital were observed in women and children as well. Patients usually had pyuria (71%), but only 39% had urinary symptoms or fever. Among predisposing factors, serious underlying diseases were uncommon, but urinary tract manipulations or abnormalities were present in nearly two thirds of patients. Fifty-five percent of cases were nosocomial, and 73% of these were associated with urinary catheterization or other invasive urinary tract procedures. Most patients (61%) were not treated for their bacteriuria, and there was a secondary bacteremia rate of 5.5% in the Veterans Hospital. Although infrequently encountered, the presence of<i>S aureus</i>in urine should be treated with at least as much concern as more frequently encountered bacteria. (<i>Arch Intern Med</i>139:78-80, 1979)