What is the Difference Between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus

Thekey differencebetweenStaphylococcus AureusandStaphylococcus Saprophyticusis thatStaphylococcus aureusis a pathogenic bacterial species that mainly causes soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, bone and joint infections, whileStaphylococcus saprophyticusis a pathogenic bacterial species that mainly causesurinary tract infections.

Staphylococcusis a genus ofGram-positive bacteriathat cause a wide range of clinical diseases in humans. The infections caused by the pathogens of this genus are both hospital-acquired and community-acquired.Staphylococcusspecies arefacultative anaerobicorganisms and form grape-like clusters. In fact, it is one of the leading infections in hospitals, and there are at least 43 species under this genus.Staphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus saprophyticusare two pathogenic bacterial species of this genus.

CONTENTS

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Staphylococcus Aureus
3.What is Staphylococcus Saprophyticus
4.Similarities – Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus
5.金黄色葡萄球菌和葡萄球菌Saprophyticus in Tabular Form
6.Summary – Staphylococcus Aureus vs. Staphylococcus Saprophyticus

What is Staphylococcus Aureus?

Staphylococcus aureusis a gram-positive spherical-shaped bacterium in the microbiota of the human body. It is mainly found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin.S. aureusis a facultative anaerobe and is often positive for catalase and nitrate reduction tests. Even though it is a commensal, it can be an opportunistic pathogen. As an opportunistic pathogen, it commonly causes abscesses, respiratory infections like sinusitis, and food poisoning. It can also cause bloodstream infections and bone and joint infections. The pathogenic strains of this species promote their infection through virulent factors such as potent protein toxins and the expression of cell surface protein (that binds and inactivates antibodies).

S. aureusis one of the leading causes of death associated with antimicrobial resistance. Numerous antibiotic-resistant strains, such asmethicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA), have occurred throughout the world, which is a major problem for clinical medicine. Despite all efforts, no vaccine has yet been approved forS. aureus. Furthermore, in the United States, around 500,000 hospital patients contract staphylococcal infection each year. In addition, approximately 50,000 deaths are reported each year in the United States that are linked to staphylococcal infection.

What is Staphylococcus Saprophyticus?

Staphylococcus saprophyticusis a gram-positive coccus bacterium belonging to the genusStaphylococcus. It mainly causes community-acquired urinary tract infections. Moreover, in humans,S. saprophyticuscan be found in the normal flora of the female genital tract and perineum.S. saprophyticususually results in 10–20% of urinary tract infections (UTIs).S. saprophyticusis positive for catalase and urease tests and negative for motility, coagulase, nitrate reduction, and oxidase tests.

The virulent factors of this bacterial species are adherence to urothelial cells through a surface-associated protein, lipoteichoic acid, hemolysin, and the production of extracellular slime. Furthermore, urinary tract infections ofS. Saprophyticuscan be treated through trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or with a quinolone (norfloxacin) and ampicillin & ceftriaxone.

What are the Similarities Between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus?

• Staphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus saprophyticusare two pathogenic bacterial species under the genusStaphylococcus.
• Both are normally commensal in humans.
• They become opportunistic pathogens in humans.
• Both are round or spherical in shape and gram-positive in nature.
• They are resistant to some antibiotics.

What is the Difference Between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus?

Staphylococcus aureusis a pathogenic bacterial species mainly causing soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and bone and joint infections, whileStaphylococcus saprophyticusis a pathogenic bacterial species mainly causing urinary tract infections. Thus, this is the key difference between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus. Furthermore,Staphylococcus aureusis mainly found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin of humans. On the other hand,Staphylococcus saprophyticusis mainly found in the normal flora of the female genital tract and perineum.

The infographic below presents the differences betweenStaphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticusin tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Staphylococcus Aureus vs. Staphylococcus Saprophyticus

Staphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus saprophyticusare two pathogenic bacterial species under the genusStaphylococcus. They are normally commensals and can be opportunistic pathogens in humans.Staphylococcus aureus是一种更常见的致病细菌物种主要ly causing soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and bone and joint infections in humans, whileStaphylococcus saprophyticusis a less common pathogenic bacterial species mainly causing urinary tract infections. So, this summarizes the difference between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus.

Reference:

1. “Staphylococcus Aureus in Healthcare Settings.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. “Staphylococcus Saprophyticus Infection.” Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Staphylococcus aureus appearance on agar plates” By HansN. – Own work(CC BY 3.0)via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Staphylococcus saprophyticus” By Riraq25 – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)via Commons Wikimedia