[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Microbiology](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/) › [Staphylococci](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/groups/staphylococci/) › Staphylococcus saprophyticus

[Microbiology](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/) · [Staphylococci](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/groups/staphylococci/)

# Staphylococcus saprophyticus

- Bacterium
- Gram-positive
- Exam priority: medium

A bacterium that causes urinary infection in young sexually active women; it is their second most common cause of community cystitis.

Updated 2026-11-01

Also called: coagulase-negative staphylococcus

## Key points

- Second cause of cystitis in young women, after E. coli.
- Coagulase negative and novobiocin resistant.
- Urease positive.

## At a glance

**Gram**
Gram-positive

**Shape**
Cocci in clusters

**Oxygen**
Facultative anaerobe

**Family**
Staphylococcaceae

**Stain**
Gram positive; catalase positive, coagulase negative

## Morphology

- Gram-positive cocci in clusters
- Novobiocin resistant
- Urease positive

## Transmission

- Ascent from the urethra into the bladder
- Linked to sexual activity

### Isolation precautions

What the care team adds to standard precautions.

- Standard

## Virulence factors

- Adhesins that bind urinary epithelium
- Urease

## Diseases it causes

- Cystitis and lower urinary tract infection in young women [Urinary tract infection (acute cystitis) →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/urinary-tract-infection/)

## Clinical picture

- Dysuria, frequency and urgency
- Can ascend and cause pyelonephritis

## Diagnosis

- Urine culture
- Coagulase negative, novobiocin resistant

## Treatment

It responds to the usual cystitis agents (for example nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, depending on local susceptibility).

Drug class only; doses and regimens are set by the clinician from the current guideline.

In Pharmacology:

- [Nitrofurantoin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/nitrofurantoin/)

## Prevention

- Hydration and voiding after intercourse (general urinary prevention measures)

## Memory aid

Sapro stands firm against novobiocin and prefers the bladders of young women after the honeymoon.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Who is the typical patient with S. saprophyticus cystitis?

A young sexually active woman.

## Which test separates S. saprophyticus from S. epidermidis?

Novobiocin: S. saprophyticus is resistant.

## Which organism causes more cystitis in young women than S. saprophyticus?

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/microbiology/staphylococcus-saprophyticus/)

## Related

- [Staphylococcus epidermidis](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/staphylococcus-epidermidis/)
- [Enterococcus](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/enterococcus/)

## Related conditions

- [Urinary tract infection (acute cystitis)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/urinary-tract-infection/)

## What the colours mean

**Gram-positive**
Thick peptidoglycan wall: stains purple.

**Gram-negative**
Thin wall with an outer membrane: stains pink.

**Acid-fast**
Lipid-rich wall (mycobacteria): Ziehl–Neelsen stain.

[← Back to the group: Staphylococci](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/groups/staphylococci/)

Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Staphylococcal Infections](https://medlineplus.gov/staphylococcalinfections.html) (MedlinePlus (NLM), 2025); [Urinary tract infection - adults](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000521.htm) (MedlinePlus (NLM), 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/staphylococcus-saprophyticus/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/staphylococcus-saprophyticus/