Other Infections
Page updated Winter 2021.
Disclaimer: Medicine is an ever-changing science. We have been witnessing changes in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and guidelines during last several years. We have used sources believe to be reliable for purpose of this website including AUA guidelines, EAU guidelines, NCCN guidelines, Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology, UpToDate, Merck Manual, Lexi-Comp, FDA website, and other reputable sources. However, due to possibility of human error or changes in medicine, readers are required to confirm the information provided in this website with other sources. Readers are specially required to read all parts of the product information sheet included in the package of each drug they plan to administer and follow those instructions. Readers are also needed to follow instructions of FDA and other regulatory bodies and their own department in this regard. Authors can cite information provided in our textbooks or they need to cite the original sources. This website serves as a general framework. We and other users would adjust the approach per departments policies and patients situation. Forms can be used by other health care professionals.
Acute Bacterial Prostatitis
Diagnosis
Mid-stream urine dipstick:
To check nitrite and leukocytes
Mid-stream urine culture
Blood culture
Total blood count
Imaging:
If fevers persist for longer than 36 hours to rule out prostatic abscess.
Treatment
Resuscitation
Antibiotics:
For 2 weeks. Up to 4 weeks in some settings.
IV:
Initial route of treatment
Third-generation cephalosporin
Broad-spectrum penicillin
Carbapenems
Fluoroquinolone: should not be offered to patients who have a fever after prostate biopsy.
PO:
Once fever has subsided. Patients who are not severely ill or vomiting may be treated initially with an oral fluoroquinolone.
Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid, if bacteria is susceptible
Levofloxacin 500 mg daily, if bacteria is susceptible
NSAIDS
Alpha-blockers:
If they have LUTS
Straight catheterization:
For short period of time
Suprapubic catheter: for long-term bladder drainage
Drainage of prostate abscess:
Percutaneous drainage
Transurethral route:
Lesions that do not respond to initial percutaneous drainage or are too large to adequately drain percutaneously
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Diagnosis
2 glass test
NAAT
Chlamydia trachomatis or Mycoplasma
Treatment
Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin: 4-6 weeks
Azithromycin or doxycycline: For intracellular bacteria
Metronidazole: For Trichomonas vaginalis
Alpha-blockers
Suppressive antimicrobials in HIV:
If patient is taking HAART and is still persistently immunocompromised, lifetime suppressive antimicrobials is recommended to lower the risk of progression to prostatic abscess.
HIV
Diagnosis
Initial test
Antigen/antibody combination immunoassay (4th generation)
Detects HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies and p24 antigen.
If non-reactive, no further testing is needed.
Second test
HIV1/ HIV2 antibody differentiation immunoassay
Antibody immunoassay that differentiates HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies.
It is recommended in patients in whom the initial test was positive.
Third test:
HIV1 NAAT test
If first test is reactive and second test is non-reactive or indeterminant
Urethritis
Diagnosis
NAATs: on a first-void urine sample
Preferred method for detecting N.gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis.
May also be used for Trichomonas vaginalis in persistent cases.
Urethral swab culture:
Perform prior to initiation of treatment in patients with a positive NAAT for gonorrhoea to assess antimicrobial resistance profile.
HIV and syphilis tests
Treatment
Treat gonorrhea or chlamydia. Treatment for coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis with oral doxycycline should be administered when chlamydial infection has not been excluded.
Sexual partners should also be treated while maintaining the patient' confidentiality.
Gonococcal infections: Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM, single dose
Chlamydia Urethritis: Doxycycline 100 mg bid for 7 days.
Trichomonas vaginalis: Metronidazole,2 g, PO, single dose
Acute Infective Epididymitis
Diagnosis
Exclude testicular torsion first.
NAAT- on a first-void urine sample
for N.gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis.
Mid-stream urine culture
Treatment
Acute epididymitis most likely caused by sexually transmitted chlamydia and gonorrhea:
Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM, single dose. Plus
Doxycycline 100 mg PO, bid, for 10 day.
Acute epididymitis most likely caused by sexually-transmitted chlamydia and gonorrhea and enteric organisms:
Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM, single dose. Plus Levofloxacin 500 mg, PO, once a day for 10 days
Acute epididymitis most likely caused by enteric organisms:
Levofloxacin 500 mg, PO, once a day for 10 days
Follow-up
Signs and symptoms of epididymitis that do not subside within 3 days require re-evaluation of the diagnosis and therapy.
Children younger than 14 years and Men older than 50 years should be evaluated for anatomic problems.
Fournier’s gangrene
Treatment
Broad-spectrum antibiotics:
Piperacillin-tazobactam plus Vancomycin
Meropenem/ Ertapenem
Cefotaxime plus metronidazole or clindamycin
For dose, refer to common medications page.
Repeated surgical debridement
Limited debridement of non-viable tissues.
Tissues with marginal viability may survive due to collateral blood flow.
Multiple procedures in the operating room are needed.
Wound management options are:
Gauze dressings
Silver sulfadiazine or topical antibiotic
Wound Vac
Suprapubic diversion
If there is urethral trauma or extravasation
Colostomy
If there is colonic or rectal perforation.
Genital Ulcer Disease (GUD)
Most genital ulcers in the United States are either herpes
(most common) or syphilis. Chancroid is seen in some parts of US, but granuloma inguinale usually is not. Lymphogranuloma venereum incidence is going up in male having sex with male.
Diagnosis
The minimum testing for all cases of GUD should include a viral identification test for HSV and a syphilis serology.
HSV tests:
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT)- superior test
Viral culture
Antigen test: if above tests are not available.
Syphilis tests:
Swab from ulcer:
Dark-field examination
or
Direct/indirect fluorescent antibody (DFA/IFA)
or
NAAT
Screening serology:
Non-treponemal tests: RPR, or VDRL
or
Treponemal-specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA)-more sensitive in primary syphilis
Confirmatory serology:
TP-PA
MHA-TP
FTA-ABS
INNO-LIA™
Chancroid tests:
NAAT
Culture
Gram stain
Lymphogranuloma Venereum
NAAT
Culture
Granuloma Inguinale
Biopsy- Identification of dark-staining Donovan bodies
Treatment
HSV: Refer to common medication section.
Primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis
Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units IM, single dose
In case of penicillin allergy: Doxycycline 100 mg PO bid for 14 days
HPV
Diagnosis
There is currently no approved test for HPV in men.
Treatment
Direct excision
Cryotherapy
CO2 laser
Patient-applied treatments
Vaccine
Preteens at age 11 or 12 years
vaccination of others not previously vaccinated aged 13-45 years
Molluscum Contagiosum
Diagnosis
Clinical
Treatment
No treatment is an option for immunocompetent patients.