[Efficacy of enoxacin in the treatment of prostatitis-vesiculitis: its absence of toxicity on spermatogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
The ability of enoxacin, a second generation quinolone, to diffuse into the seminal fluid both of normal volunteers (n = 10, protocol A) and patients with prostato-vesiculitis and positive sperm cultures (n = 10, protocol B) was investigated. In addition, the microbiological effectiveness and the occurrence of adverse effects on spermatogenesis were evaluated in the patient group.


METHODS
Enoxacin was administered in oral doses of 300 mg b.i.d. for two and seven days to volunteers and patients, respectively. Two hours after the last drug administration, blood, semen and urine samples were collected to determine seminal fluid antibiotic concentrations by microbiological agar diffusion assay. In protocol B, sperm cultures and sperm analyses were performed at the end of treatment and repeated at 30 and 90 days follow-ups.


RESULTS
In both protocols significant seminal fluid antibiotic concentration was achieved, thus providing evidence for considerable diffusion of the drug into prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Moreover, sperm cultures were sterile in all patients, and semen analysis demonstrated that spermatogenesis was not impaired by antibiotic treatment; on the contrary, 30 days after drug withdrawal percentage sperm motility improved, and the rate of abnormal forms decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of adverse effects, both general and specifically on spermatogenesis, may be related to the restriction of indications and the brevity of the therapeutic cycles. Our results suggest that enoxacin may be successfully and safely used, in short term courses, for the treatment of documented genital tract infection by sensitive organisms. Further studies are needed to thoroughly evaluate the potential adverse effects on fertility of this quinolone, particularly when used for long-term suppressive therapy in patients with chronic urological infections.
Barletta
D
D
Clinique médicale I, Université de Pise, Italie.
Monzani
F
F
Gasperi
M
M
Caraccio
N
N
Maccanti
O
O
Bellitti
P
P
Bonadio
M
M
Pucci
E
E
D000328:Adult; D015365:Enoxacin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D015365:Enoxacin
Efficacité de l'énoxacine dans le traitement des prostato-vésiculites: son absence de toxicité sur la spermatogénèse.