Practical recommendations for the drug treatment of bacterial infections of the male genital tract including urethritis, epididymitis and prostatitis

Bacterial infections of the male genital tract in young men (<35 years old) are primarily caused by sexually transmissible bacteria like Chlamydia tra chomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae but also Mycoplasma or Haemophilus spp. In men aged over 35 years, Enterobacteriaceae are more frequently involved in urethritis, epididymitis and prostatitis, The traditional treatments sugges ted like tetracyclines or erythromycin are less effective since bacterial r esistance is increasingly frequent, particularly in N. gonorrhoeae. Moreove r, patient compliance with these drug treatments are frequently not well ob served. New therapies including short term therapy with fluoroquinolones or azalides (e.g. azithromycin) are very effective and easy to use and thus e liminate any problem of compliance. However, we have to be vigilant for the emergence of resistant strains to these agents.