Expressed Prostate Secretion (EPS) Culture and Sensitivity Study in the Philippines: A Single Surgeon Experience

Abstract

Objective: Treatment of prostatitis continues to be a challenge. The authors evaluated the culture and sensitivity of expressed prostate secretion of patients with bacterial prostatitis in the local setting.

Materials and Methods: All patients who were suspected to have prostatitis underwent expressed prostate secretion cultures. All positive cultures were then included in the study.

Results: One hundred six (106) culture positive examinations were included in the study. Staphylococcus species were the most common organisms at 55% (59/106), followed by Enterococcus species at 17% (19/106). Over-all, Vancomycin was still the antibiotic the organisms were most sensitive to among all the antimicrobials regardless of organism cultured at 69% (74/106) followed by Ciprofloxacin at 43% (46/106)

Conclusion: The study showed some discrepancy with current known epidemiological studies on the incidence of the organisms causing bacterial prostatitis. It also showed that the current most commonly used antimicrobial agent (fluroquinolone) may have a high resistance rate that is not acceptable as an empiric treatment hence the investigators recommend at least the use of expressed prostate secretion culture study as guide for the management of prostatitis.