Chlamydia trachomatis : probable cause of prostatitis

Abstract

Seventy-eight men with symptoms of chronic or subacute prostatitis were enrolled. Investigations for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in urethral swabs were carried out. The expressed prostatic secretions were additionally examined for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Gardnerella vaginalis, other gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, Trichomonas vaginalis, yeast-like fungi and leucocyte count. Furthermore, all patients were evaluated for the presence of serum anti-chlamydial IgG antibodies. Signs of inflammation on the basis of the count of leucocytes per hpf in the prostatic secretions were detected in 42 patients (group I). Prostatodynia was found in the remaining 36 men (group II). In group I, chlamydial antigen was detected in the urethra and expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in 6 (14.3%) and 9 (21.4%) patients, respectively. No evidence of current chlamydial infection was found in group II. The presence of serum anti-chlamydial IgG antibodies was demonstrated in 13/42 (30.9%) patients with prostatitis and in 3/36 (8.3%) patients with prostatodynia (P < 0.01). The results suggest that chlamydia may be one of the causative agents of chronic prostatitis.

Influence of circumcision and sexual behaviour on PSA levels in patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic

“…There is increasing evidence to support the need for further investigation in patients with acute and persistent chlamydial infections to clarify the relative difference of the effect of the prostate on these two extremes of chlamydial infection. 10 Although most epidemiogical investigations into prostate cancer confirms an association between occurrence of prostate cancer and age of first intercourse and number of sexual partners, 4 the data presented in this paper is the first piece of evidence to suggest that these risk factors do have a damaging effect on the prostate at an early age. Previously there has been argument as to whether these risk factors are associated with hormonal differences leading to prostate cancer or due to the infection itself.…”

Chlamydia trachomatis occurrence and its impact on sperm quality in chronic prostatitis patients

“…Several investigators have proposed them as useful and complementary diagnostic tests. 20,32,42,43 We measured the levels of antichlamydial antibodies (IgG and IgA) in serum and in semen, as a result of systemic and local immune response to a past or present chlamydial infection, respectively. We detected the presence of positive titers of CT-specific IgG and IgA in 7.5% and 32.5% of the seminal plasma and in 15.0% and 2.5% of the serum samples from patients under our study.…”

Genitourinary Issues in the Male College Student: A Case-Based Approach

“…Prostatitis also can occur in patients with chronic indwelling bladder catheters and even in those who perform intermittent catheterization [73]. Although often assumed to be a sexually transmitted infection, only minimal evidence links its etiology to C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae; it is more likely caused by U. urealyticum, coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, T. vaginalis, and M. hominis [74,75].…”