Acute nongonococcal epididymitis. Aetiological and therapeutic aspects.

In this study, 20 men suffering from acute nongonococcal epididymitis were treated with ofloxacin 200mg bid given orally for 2 weeks. Patients were re-examined after 2, 6, and 12 weeks. The outcome was assessed both clinically and microbiologically. Two weeks after start of therapy, the causative agent (Chlamydia trachomatis) was still present in only 1 patient, although local painful swelling of the epididymis persisted in 14 men. During the follow-up period, local signs of epididymitis decreased. After 12 weeks, an eradication of the causative micro-organisms was found in 16 of 20 cases. In 4 men, infection by the primary pathogen persisted: Escherichia coli (2); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1) and C. trachomatis (1). Local pain and swelling was still detected in 6 of 20 men.