Vol. 42 No. 6 (2025): December (next Issue)
Original Article

Resistance surveillance and detection of the mecA gene in urinary isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus

  • Norma Jovita Fariña González,
  • Marta Rodriguez de Vega,
  • Fátima Rodriguez,
  • Alicia Pereira,
  • María del Carmen Rolón,
  • Julio Barrios
Norma Jovita Fariña González
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud

Published 2025-11-10

Keywords

How to Cite

1.
Fariña González NJ, Rodriguez de Vega M, Rodriguez F, Pereira A, Rolón M del C, Barrios J. Resistance surveillance and detection of the mecA gene in urinary isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Rev. Chilena. Infectol. [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 10 [cited 2025 Nov. 25];42(6). Available from: https://revinf.cl/index.php/revinf/article/view/2536

Copyright (c) 2025 Norma Jovita Fariña González, Marta Rodriguez de Vega, Fátima Rodriguez, Alicia Pereira, María del Carmen Rolón, Julio Barrios

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Background Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a common pathogen in urinary tract infections and is generally susceptible to first-line antimicrobials. Therefore, CLSI guidelines do not recommend routine antibiograms for this species. Aim: To assess the in vitro sensitivity of urine isolates of S. saprophyticus to antimicrobials, ascertain the resistance rate to oxacillin, and detect the presence of the mecA gene. Methods: 140 isolates of S. saprophyticus were analyzed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to CLSI standards. Penicillin, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, and cefoxitin were tested as predictors of resistance to oxacillin. Detection of the mecA gene was performed by PCR in oxacillin-resistant isolates by diffusion. Results: Resistance rates were 29.2% (41/140) for penicillin, 6.4% (9/140) for oxacillin, and 14% (17/140) for cotrimoxazole. 1.4% (2/140) showed intermediate resistance to cotrimoxazole. 100% of the isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin. The mecA gene was detected in all oxacillin-resistant isolates. Conclusion: The increase in resistance to penicillin, oxacillin, and cotrimoxazole underscores the importance of continuous monitoring of S. saprophyticus susceptibility to guide empirical therapies and prevent treatment failures.