What is the Difference Between Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus?

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus are both pathogenic bacterial species that belong to the Staphylococcus genus, but they have some differences in their characteristics and the infections they cause:

1. Virulence Factors: S. saprophyticus does not possess any virulence factors found in S. aureus, such as coagulase, enterotoxins, exoenzymes, and extracellular matrix-binding proteins.
2. Resistance: S. saprophyticus can be differentiated from another coagulase-negative staphylococcus by its resistance to Novobiocin.
3. Infections: Staphylococcus aureus mainly causes soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and bone and joint infections. In contrast, Staphylococcus saprophyticus mainly causes urinary tract infections, and other staphylococci are infrequent pathogens.
4. Prevalence: Staphylococcus aureus is a more common pathogenic bacterial species, while Staphylococcus saprophyticus is less common.

Both species are normally commensal in humans but can become opportunistic pathogens under certain conditions. They are round or spherical in shape, gram-positive in nature, and resistant to some antibiotics.

Comparative Table: Staphylococcus Aureus vs Staphylococcus Saprophyticus

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus are both types of bacteria, but they have some key differences. Here is a table comparing their characteristics:

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of food poisoning due to the release of enterotoxins in foods, while Staphylococcus saprophyticus is primarily associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). S. saprophyticus is a coagulase-negative bacterium, meaning it lacks the enzyme coagulase, and can be differentiated from other coagulase-negative staphylococci by its resistance to Novobiocin. It is responsible for complications such as acute pyelonephritis, epididymitis, prostatitis, and urethritis.