Changes in white blood cell counts in men undergoing thrice‐weekly prostatic massage, microbial diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy for genitourinary complaints

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Abstract
Objective: To report changes in the white blood cell (WBC) counts in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) in men with pelvic symptoms undergoing thrice‐weekly prostatic massage combined with antimicrobial therapy.Patients and methods: The study comprised a retrospective analysis of the records of 35 patients (mean age 45.3 years, range 28–70, SD, 12.03) with pelvic pain, pain in the lower back, obstructive urinary symptoms, irritative urinary symptoms, or sexual dysfunction, who had undergone the same diagnosis and treatment protocol in a genitourinary clinic in Manila, Philippines, from September 1992 to September 1995.Results: EPS were obtained 347 times in 35 patients (median 9 times per patient, range 6–16). In 26 of the 35 (74%) patients the WBC count in the EPS was t‐test, P<0.001).Conclusions: The classification of patients into those with prostatodynia or prostatitis based on one EPS examination is misleading and thrice‐weekly massage of the prostate is better than a single collection of EPS to obtain the most purulent sample for Gram staining and culture.