Treatment of men with urethritis negative for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum

OBJECTIVE: Some patients with symptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) are negative for Chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas. The optimal antimicrobial chemotherapy for such NGU has not fully been elucidated, though many studies of antimicrobial chemotherapies for C. trachomatis-positive NGU have been performed. We assessed the efficacy of antimicrobial agents that are active against C. trachomatis on non-mycoplasmal, non-ureaplasmal and non-chlamydial NGU (NMNUNCNGU). METHODS: One hundred men whose first-pass urine samples were negative for C. trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum were treated with levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, minocycline, or clarithromycin for 7 days. Urethritis symptoms and the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in urethral smears were assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (88.0%) of 100 men with NMNUNCNGU showed no signs of urethral inflammation after treatment, but two men complained of some symptoms of urethritis. Twelve (12.0%) of 100 men had significant numbers of PMNL in urethral smears, but five of these 12 men had no symptoms of urethritis. The efficacy for normalization of urethral smears was 90.7% for clarithromycin, 89.7% for levofloxacin, 87.5% for gatifloxacin, and 75.0% for minocycline. The 12 men who showed signs of urethral inflammation were retreated with levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, minocycline or clarithromycin for an additional 7 days. The 10 men who returned after the second treatment had negative urethral smears. CONCLUSION: Our present findings suggest that antimicrobial agents active against C. trachomatis are effective against NMNUNCNGU and that a 7-day treatment regimen with an appropriate antimicrobial agent may be sufficient to manage patients with NMNUNCNGU.     

Clinical analysis of male urethritis]

We reviewed 497 patients with male urethritis diagnosed between January, 1986 and March, 1989 at the Asama General Hospital. The incidence of gonococcal urethritis (GU) was 47.7%, and that of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) 52.3%. There was no difference in the age distribution between GU and NGU. Prostitutes were the most common source of the infection in both GU and NGU. Incubation periods were longer in NGU than in GU, statistically. Urethral discharge was the most common symptom. Purulent urethral discharge was seen more commonly than serous urethral discharge in GU. On the contrary, serous urethral discharge was more common in NGU. Penicillin-resistant gonococcus comprised 29.4% and mixed infection of the C. trachomatis existed 25.6% in GU. C. trachomatis was detected in 71.8% in NGU. In GU, new quinolones and penicillins were administered frequently. The effective rates 1 week after the administration were 80.6% and 83.3%, respectively. In NGU, new quinolones and minocycline were administered frequently. The effective rates were 70.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Ofloxacin (OFLX) showed the highest effective rate to NGU among the four new quinolones. The relapse rate for the two-week administration group was lower than that for the one-week-administration group, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

PCR检测衣原体及其在男性尿道感染中的意义

应用聚酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）检测６０４例临床已确诊的男性泌尿系感染患者沙眼衣原体（ＣＴ）感染情况，发现ＣＴ阳性率为：急性淋菌性尿道炎（ＡＧＵ）占２６．９％（１１７／４３５），淋菌感染后尿道炎（ＰＧＵ）占４８．５％（３２／６６），非淋菌性尿道炎（ＮＧＵ）占３１．１％（３２／１０３）。认为ＰＣＲ技术是临床快速诊断男性ＣＴ尿道炎的有效方法。     

PCR检测沙眼衣原体及其在男性尿道感染中的意义

应用多聚酶链反应(PCR)检测604例临床已确诊的男性泌尿系感染患者衣原体(CT)感染情况,发现阳性率为:急性淋菌性尿道炎26.9％(117/435)、淋菌后尿道炎48.5％(32/66)、非淋菌性尿道炎31.1％(32/103)。认为PCR技术是临床快速诊断男性衣原体尿道炎的有效方法。     

甘肃省张掖市2 356例患者泌尿生殖道衣原体、支原体感染的调查与药敏分析

目的：了解甘肃省张掖市2000-2004年间2356例可疑非淋菌性尿道炎（NGU）患者泌尿生殖道分泌物衣原体、支原体感染及药敏状况。方法：应用衣原体试剂盒（胶体金法）定性检测衣原体抗原、支原体培养及药敏选用支原体药敏试剂盒,并对10种抗生素对支原体的敏感性进行了分析。结果：2356例可疑NGU患者检出衣原体阳性者384例（16．29％）,支原体阳性者324例（13．29％）,混合感染者57例（2．42％）。支原体敏感的药物是多西环素、交沙霉素、米诺环素,耐药的是环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、克林霉素。结论：张掖地区NGU患者的病原体仍然主要是衣原体、支原体,多西环素、交沙霉素、米诺环素可作为支原体感染的首选药物,同时,NGU的病原学检测和药敏试验对其防治尤为重要。     

Chlamydia trachomatis antigen can be detected in the urine sample of men with non-gonococcal urethritis

Summary We tested the first portion of voided urine (FVU) and urethral swab from 80 patients with nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) using a novel enzymeamplified immunoassay (IDEIA) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen. Urine specimens were positive in all patients with positive urethral swabs (positive coincidence ratio, 100%) and in 6 of 54 patients with negative swabs (negative coincidence ratio, 88.9%). Our data suggest that FVU is suitable for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen using the IDEIA test in patients with NGU.     

Clinical studies of Chlamydia trachomatis in male urethritis

From January through December 1986, the urethral smear specimens from 132 male urethritis patients were examined by using Chlamydia trachomatis direct specimen test (Micro Trak). C. trachomatis was detected in 59 (44.7%) out of 132 male urethritis patients, 8 (30.8%) out of 26 patients with gonococcal urethritis (GU), and 51 (48.1%) out of 106 patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). In 5 (31.3%) out of 16 cases, already treated in other hospitals, infection of C. trachomatis was revealed. The age distribution of the patients with chlamydial urethritis (NGU-C) was between 19 and 52 years old, and the average was 30.9 years old. The peak incubation periods of GU and NGU-C were seen within 7 days and between 8 and 14 days, respectively. In NGU-C patients, 70.6% of them showed WBC less than or equal to 9/hpf in first voided urine sediment. The source of infection was a non-prostitute in 22.2% and a prostitute in 72.2% of GU, while in NGU-C 23.5% was infected from a non-prostitute, and 62.7% from a prostitute. Ofloxacin (OFLX) was administered in a daily dosage of 600 mg (in 3 divided oral doses) for 5 to 14 days in 38 NGU-C patients, and C. trachomatis was eliminated in all cases after the treatment.     

Cytodiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis by the immunoperoxidase technic

The PAP-immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against Chlamydia trachomatis was applied to male patients with clinically manifest urethritis and their female sex partners. In addition, serum levels of the antibody were determined by means of an ELISA system. Immunoperoxidase reactions were recognized on urethral scrapes in 53 (33%) out of 160 cases, and on endocervical specimens in 13 (59%) out of 22 sex partners of PAP-positive patients. In patients with gonococcal urethritis, an infection of C. trachomatis was revealed immunocytochemically in 11 (31%) out of 36 cases, and in 29 (46%) out of 62 cases with non-gonococcal urethritis. Following medication with 200 mg of minocycline or doxycycline per day, PAP staining became negative in 23 (66%) out of 35 cases. The levels of serum antibody against C. trachomatis were undetectable in 8 (26%) out of 29 PAP-positive cases, but positive in 7 (15%) out of 44 PAP-negative cases.     

Clinical feature of male non-gonorrhoea urethritis and minocycline treatment of Chlamydia or Ureaplasma-infected urethritis

Thirty-nine male patients with urethritis were studied for gonorrhoea or non-gonorrhoea infections. Only 2 patients were infected with N. gonorrhoeae, the other 37 patients were non-gonorrhoea urethritis (NGU). In 9 of these patients, C. trachomatis was identified and in 6 patients, U. urealyticum was isolated. No chlamydial urethritis was combined with ureaplasma. There was no clinical difference between chlamydia and ureaplasma infection, such as serous urethral discharge or mild pyuria. Minocycline was given orally at the dose of 200 mg daily for 7 to 42 days to these patients. Seven of the 9 patients (78%) with C. trachomatis and 7 of the 6 patients (67%) with U. urealyticum infection showed improvement of subjective and objective symptoms after minocycline. In no case, was an adverse reaction noted. Minocycline was effective in the treatment of both C. trachomatis and U. urealyticum urethral infection.     

Azithromycin treatment for nongonococcal urethritis negative for Chlamydia trachomatis,Mycoplasma genitalium,Mycoplasma hominis,Ureaplasma parvum,and Ureaplasma urealyticum

Some patients with nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) are negative for Chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasmas, and ureaplasmas. The optimal antimicrobial chemotherapy for such NGU has not fully been clarified. We assessed the efficacy of azithromycin for treatment of nonmycoplasmal, nonureaplasmal, nonchlamydial NGU (NMNUNCNGU). Thirty‐eight men whose first‐pass urine was negative for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum were treated with a single dose of 1 g azithromycin. Urethritis symptoms and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in urethral smears or in first‐pass urine were assessed before and after treatment with azithromycin. Thirty‐two (84.2%) of the 38 men with NMNUNCNGU showed no signs of urethral inflammation after treatment. The efficacy of this azithromycin regimen was comparable to that of the 7‐day regimen of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, minocycline, or clarithromycin reported previously. A single dose of 1 g azithromycin, which is effective not only for NGU due to specific pathogens but also for NMNUNCNGU, is an appropriate treatment for NGU.     

The clinical presentation of Chlamydia trachomatis in a urological practice

Fifty-nine men with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection have been studied. Epididymitis was the most common presentation (26) compared with urethritis (8) and prostatitis (9). Only 13 patients gave a history of a urethral discharge. Fifteen of 21 female consorts screened were CT positive and 13 of these were asymptomatic. This demonstrates the major aetiological role of CT in lower genitourinary infection and indicates the importance of screening and treating consorts.     

Clinical study of male urethritis in Oogaki Municipal Hospital

We studied 181 patients diagnosed with male urethritis at Oogaki Municipal Hospital from April 2002 to March 2004. Twenty-two out of 92 patients diagnosed with gonococcal urethritis (GU) and 52 out of 89 patients diagnosed with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) were positive for Chlamidia trichomatis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most patients of male urethritis were in their twenties. Of GU patients, 39 (67%) were infected from commercial sex workers (CSWs). Of NGU patients, 12 (30%) were infected from CSWs, 24 (40%) from girl friends and 4 (10%) from their Twenty-eight (48%) out of GU patients were infected through oral sex. spouse. Eighty-three GU patients were treated with SPCM (2 g, one shot). Fifty-five patients could be evaluated for the efficacy of treatment. Elimination rate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was 100% and 14 out of 18 patients with persisting urethritis had C. trichomatis. Eighty-two NGU patients were treated with minocycline, tosufloxacin, levofloxacin, gatiflixacin or clarithromycine. Sixty-six patients could be evaluated for the efficacy of treatment. Forty-one patients were diagnosed with non-gonococcal chlamydial urethritis (NGCU) and 25 patients were diagnosed with non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis (NGNCU). The clinical curative rate of NGCU and NGNCU was 93% (38/41) and 80% (20/25), respectively.     

Acute urethritis caused by Neisseria meningitidis and Chlamydia trachomatis

A 16-year-old heterosexual man presented to our hospital with a purulent urethral discharge and pain at voiding. These symptoms began seven days after oral-genital contact (fellatio) with his partner. A Gram-stained smear from the urethral discharge showed Gram-negative diplococci, and the antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis from urine was positive. We initially made a diagnosis of urethritis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis. However, N. meningitidis was isolated by culture. Clinicians should pay attention to the possibility of N. meningitidis infection in all cases resembling gonococcal urethritis.     

男性非淋菌性尿道炎患者支原体对抗菌药物的敏感性

目的:了解支原体在男性非淋菌性尿道炎(NGU)的作用和体外对药物敏感性。方法:对864例疑为NGU的男性患者泌尿生殖道标本进行了支原体型别鉴定,用微量肉汤稀释法对支原体进行9种抗菌药物的敏感性测定。结果:272例(31.4%)支原体培养阳性,其中解脲支原体(Uu)176例,人型支原体(Mh)9例;Uu Mh混合感染87例。97.2%的支原体对9种抗菌药物有不同程度的耐药。Uu Mh混合感染的耐药率明显高于单纯Uu感染。结论:Uu Mh混合感染耐药性升高并发生耐药谱变化。对支原体的定期耐药性监测,对临床用药有重要指导意义。     

Serum antibody titers in urethritis and chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Serum antibody titers were measured by direct bacterial agglutination technique against various strains of Escherichia coli found in the fecal flora of a control group of men who had no history of genitourinary tract infection, against the strains of E. coli responsible for urethral infection in 7 men with urethritis, and against the strains of E. coli responsible for prostatic infection in 25 men with chronic prostatitis. Low serum titers were found in both the control group (median titer of 1:20) and in the urethritis group (median titer of 1:10). Excluding 3 men who had self-agglutinating strains, 18 of 22 (82 per cent) in the prostatitis group had serum titers of 1:320 or greater (median titer of 1:640). Measurement of serum antibody titers by this technique can be a valuable adjunct to diagnosis in cases of chronic prostatitis due to strains of E. coli.     

Clinical experience of enoxacin in the treatment of nongonococcal urethritis

Enoxacin (ENX) is a new derivative of pyridonecarboxylic acid and has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity. In this study, the effects of ENX on nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) were examined in 20 patients. ENX was administered orally 3 times a day at a daily dose of 600 mg for 2-23 days. Before treatment, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from urethral epithelium in 5 of the 20 patients. Of the 18 patients evaluated in this clinical trial, 15 (83%) responded well, and ENX was effective in 3 of the 5 Chlamydia positive cases and in 12 of the 13 Chlamydia-negative patients. As adverse reactions, headache was observed in one case and numbness of limbs in another case. No abnormality induced by ENX was recognized in laboratory findings. It is concluded that ENX is a useful drug in the treatment of patients with NGU, particularly in whom Chlamydia trachomatis is not isolated.     

Local antiseptic therapy for non-gonococcal urethritis: phase II study with Instillagel

Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is conventionally treated with oral antibiotics. With this Phase II study, we investigated the action of a locally disinfecting substance, Instillagel, in symptomatic NGU. Instillation treatment was performed twice daily to 32 male patients with symptomatic NGU. To evaluate the therapeutic outcome, a smear was taken from the urethra and an urine examination was performed at baseline as well as at 5 and 8 days after the start of the treatment. Pain and micturition symptoms were determined by a questionnaire with analog scales taken before and after therapy. A pre/post comparison of the urethral smears of the patients with symptomatic NGU showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001). The microbial count in the urine did not show a significant difference. The symptoms micturition (P<0.0001) and pain in the urethra (P<0.0001) were significantly improved. This Phase II study confirmed that local antiseptic treatment of NGU can offer an alternative to systemic antibiotic treatment.     

Treatment of nongonococcal urethritis--studies on clinical effects of ofloxacin

Clinical effects of ofloxacin (OFLX) in the treatment of chlamydial urethritis was compared with those in the treatment of non-chlamydial urethritis. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 33 (39.3%) out of 84 patients with nongonococcal urethritis. OFLX was administered at a dose of 100 mg, three times daily (300 mg) for 14 days. In 31 (93.3%) of the 33 patients with chlamydial urethritis, C. trachomatis was eliminated within 7 to 14 days after the start of administration, and, in two patients, inclusion bodies decreased in number but persisted. The subjective and objective clinical symptoms, urethral discharge, polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) in smears, and pyuria in VB1 of the patients with chlamydial urethritis, disappeared in 56.0, 57.6, and 63.0% of the cases, and improved in 24.0, 30.0 and 29.6% respectively, whereas those of the patients with non-chlamydial urethritis, urethral discharge, PMNL, and pyuria in VB1 disappeared in 57.6, 56.9 and 32.9%, and improved in 26.9, 13.7 and 37.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the clinical effects of OFLX between cases of chlamydial urethritis and those of non-chlamydial urethritis. Marked improvement in clinical symptoms were observed between day 7 and day 14 of medication in cases of both chlamydial and non-chlamydial urethritis. In nine out of 11 cases of non-chlamydial urethritis where OFLX was ineffective, no Ureaplasma nor aerobes, nor C. trachomatis, were isolated. In the remaining two cases where Ureaplasma and S. epidermidis were isolated respectively, these two bacteria were eradicated after medication, but urethral discharge and PMNL remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

泌尿生殖道支原体感染及体外药敏试验分析

目的:分析本地区解脲脲原体(Uu)和人型支原体(Mh)的感染状况和耐药性,并对耐药机制进行讨论.指导临床合理用药.方法:对1 612例疑为非淋菌性尿道炎(NGU)患者的泌尿生殖道标本进行支原体检测,并对阳性标本进行抗生素敏感试验.结果:1612例标本中,支原体检出1160例,感染率为72%.其中Uu、Mh、Uu Mh感染率分别为71%、19.7%、9.3%,Uu感染明显高于Mh感染,男性Uu感染率(75.5%)高于女性(68%),女性Mh感染率(22.1%)高于男性(16.0%),总感染率女性(59.6%)高于男性(40.4%),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Uu和Mh对强力霉素、交沙霉素、原始霉素较为敏感.耐药率都在5%以下.Uu和Mh对氟喹诺酮类药物耐药率较高.Mh对红霉素、阿奇霉素、克拉霉素耐药率较高.而Uu对其敏感.结论:NGU患者中支原体是主要病原体之一,鉴于耐药菌株的不断变化,建议在进行支原体检测时进行药敏试验,加强对耐药性的监测,并对其耐药机制进行深入研究,对指导临床治疗具有重要意义.新一代四环素类药物可作为Uu和Mh感染的一线药物.     

Failure to detect urethral Trichomonas vaginalis in Japanese men with or without urethritis

AIM: Trichomonas vaginalis may cause symptomatic or asymptomatic urethritis in men. There are few recent studies on the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in Japanese men, and quantification of the number of cases of urethritis attributable to this pathogen has not been performed in Japan. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and morbidity of T. vaginalis infection in Japanese men. METHODS: One hundred subjects with or without urethritis were examined for the presence of urethral T. vaginalis using culture swabs. RESULTS: Urethral swabs from all subjects were negative for T. vaginalis. CONCLUSION: These results indicate Japanese men, including those with urethritis, have a low incidence of urethral T. vaginalis infection or colonization. T. vaginalis appears to be an uncommon pathogen for male urethritis in Japan.