Etiology of urethritis in Thai men

Article Abstract:

Urethritis is the swelling of the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. It can be caused by such sexually transmitted bacteria as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Most urethritis is caused by organisms other than gonorrhea. In Thailand, gonococcal and nongonococcal urethritis represent the majority of reported sexually transmitted diseases. Although laboratory cultures can identify gonorrhea easily, cultures for chlamydia and urealyticum are more difficult to obtain. A population of military and civilian personnel was examined for the prevalence of the three bacteria causing urethritis. The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), specialized white blood cells present during infections, in the infected discharge was used to classify patients. Gonorrhea was more common among soldiers, while the incidences of chlamydia and ureaplasma were similar. Using a cutoff criterion of greater than five PMN visible in a smear of urethral fluid under a high-power microscope, it was found that gonorrhea was the only bacteria in 19 percent of the men, while gonorrhea was combined with Chlamydia and U. urealyticum in 23 percent. Chlamydia was found more often in soldiers with more than 5 PMN than those with less, but this was not true of the civilian group. Simultaneous infections may be responsible for this difference. Only one percent of the men having less than five PMN tested positive for gonorrhea. It is suggested that men having more than five PMN in their urethral fluid be treated for gonococcal urethritis. Men having less than five PMN should be treated for non-gonococcal urethritis.

Health aspects, Thailand, Gonorrhea, Urethritis, Nongonococcal, Nongonococcal urethritis

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Clinical and microbiologic features of urethritis in men in Toulouse, France

Article Abstract:

Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra and is a common problem in male patients. It can have a number of underlying causes, including microorganisms (bacteria) associated with sexually transmitted diseases. Because urethritis can be a serious disease, accurate diagnosis of its cause is necessary to provide effective treatment. To examine the prevalence of the various pathogens (disease-causing agents) known to cause urethritis, men with signs or symptoms of the disease were assessed. Microbiologic studies were performed on samples obtained from 225 men with histories of urethral discharge and other symptoms of urethritis. Results showed that for 71 of the men (31.6 percent), no microorganism could be isolated. In 49 of the men (21.8 percent), more than one microorganism was isolated. The prevalence rates for the major microorganisms found were: Chlamydia trachomatis (25.8 percent), Ureaplasma urealyticum (20.4 percent), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (10.7 percent), Gardnerella vaginalis (9.3 percent), and Haemophilus parainfluenzae (9.3 percent). Infection with different organisms was found to result in different clinical symptoms. N. gonorrhoeae was more likely to be isolated in men with urethral discharge and G. vaginalis was more likely to be isolated in men without such discharge. These results demonstrate that urethritis can be caused by a number of different microorganisms. Diagnosing urethritis should involve full identification of the pathogenic microorganisms infecting the urethra. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Bacterial infections

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Male urethritis with and without discharge: a clinical and microbiological study

Article Abstract:

It may be advisable to routinely test male patients with any urethral symptoms for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) regardless of the presence of discharge. Urethral symptoms include painful urination, urethral itch, and any unusual discharge. Male patients with STDs often have similar symptoms. Researchers compared a urine test and urethral swab tests on 219 male patients with urethral symptoms. Researchers tested for the presence of five STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasma urealyticum, mycoplasma genitalium, and trichomonas). One hundred nineteen patients had discharge while 97 had no discharge. The most commonly detected STD was mycoplasma genitalium (17%) followed by chlamydia (13%), gonorrhea (11%), ureaplasma urealyticum (7%), and gonorrhea (1%). Researchers could not identify the cause of 35% of the urethral symptoms. These STDs were more common in patients with discharge. The sensitivity of these two tests was nearly three times higher when discharge was present.

Diseases, Men, Chlamydia infections

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