Management of chronic prostatitis in genitourinary medicine clinics in theUnited Kingdom's North Thames region 2000

Twenty-two Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics in North Thames participate d in a survey of policies and case notes audit of chronic prostatitis manag ed within the past 2 years, compared with the UK National Guideline(1). For 32/33 cases notes reviewed (97%) chronic abacterial prostatitis/chronic pe lvic pain syndrome (CAP/CPPS) were diagnosed. Of these, 14/32 cases (44%) w ere following non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), 1/32 cases (3 %) followed Chlamydia trachomatis infection and for 17/32 cases (53%) no pr edisposing cause was identified. The single case of chronic bacterial prost atitis (CBP) was caused by prostatic infection with Staphylococcus spp. All cases were prescribed antibiotics, initial follow-up appointments coincidi ng with completion of antibiotics. Fourteen cases (42%) were discharged fol lowing GUM clinic management; only 7 of these cases (50%) were asymptomatic , the others having residual problems. Nine cases (27%) were referred to a specialist. Ten cases (30%) defaulted follow-up appointments; 7 of these di d not attend their first follow-up appointments.