Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriuria: Source, Clinical Relevance, and Management

Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria is a common condition with still largely undetermined clinical relevance. Although S. aureus bacteriuria can be secondary to bacteremia and systemic infection in some patients, it may predispose to bacteremia and invasive disease in others. Whereas most patients with S. aureus bacteriuria do not have symptomatic urinary tract infection, it is reportedly associated with endocarditis and other types of invasive diseases, thereby resulting in major morbidity and occasional mortality. This review summarizes and analyzes the results of previous reports of S. aureus bacteriuria and assesses the clinical relevance and management of this increasingly recognized entity.