title: Acute epididymitis: a microbiological and ultrasonographic study.
abstract: In a prospective study of 24 men (mean age 28.3 years) with acute epididymitis who underwent epididymal aspiration, micro-organisms were detected in 15 (62.5%). Chlamydia trachomatis accounted for 10 (42%) of the cases, being located in both the urethra and epididymis in 5 individuals. Chlamydial serology supported the diagnosis of chlamydial infection, there being a strong correlation between the detection of C. trachomatis and elevated titres of both chlamydial IgG and IgM antibodies. In 4 patients (mean age 55.5 years), Escherichia coli was cultured from both mid-stream urine and epididymal aspirate. Transrectal ultrasound revealed abnormal prostatic scans in 19 patients (79%). These data confirm the aetiological role of C. trachomatis, support the notion that micro-organisms spread intra-canalicularly and suggest that the prostate is also involved in the inflammatory process in acute epididymitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor-Robinson
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jalil
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Witherow
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000209:etiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial