[Aerococcus urinae and urinary tract infection].
BACKGROUND
Bacteriological investigation of urine often shows the presence of alpha-haemolytic streptococci, but the clinical significance of this finding may be unclear. Among the alpha-haemolytic streptococci found in urine is Aerococcus urinae, which is pathogenic.


METHODS
We present a prospective study of the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of A urinae in urine samples sent to a microbiology laboratory in Norway.


RESULTS
Seven out of 27 alpha-haemolytic streptococcal isolates were A urinae. This represents 0.3% of all urine isolates from our laboratory. Appropriate methods for identification and resistance determination are described.


CONCLUSIONS
Microbiological laboratories should include identification of A urinae in their diagnostic repertoire. Recommended treatment against A urinae is ampicillin or nitrofurantoin.
Grude
Nils
N
nils.grude@telelab.no
Tveten
Yngvar
Y
D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013289:Streptococcaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology