© 2013 Wichtig Editore - ISSN 0391-5603 Urologia ( 2013 ; : 1) 1 - 8 79 DOI: 10.5301/urologia.5000024 1 A prospective observational study of chronic prostatitis with emphasis on epidemiological and microbiological features Konstantinos Stamatiou 1 , Drosos E. Karageorgopoulos 2 1 Department of Urology, Tzaneio General Hospital, Piraeus - Greece 2 Department of Medicine - Infectious Diseases, Tzaneio General Hospital, Piraeus - Greece OBJECTIVES: Despite the progress made in recent years in understanding and diagnosing chronic pros- tatitis (CP) many cases are still underdiagnosed and undertreated for unknown reasons. The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological data of patients with symptoms of CP and to associ- ate data from medical history and clinical examination with the results of laboratory tests. METHODS: The study population consisted of individuals with reported pelvic discomfort and genital pain with or without lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction visiting our department from 03/2009 to 03/2011. Patients underwent Meares-Stamey test (a few cases underwent the two-glass test). Depending on history and specific symptoms, urethral smear and sperm cultures were additionally obtained from several patients. The processes and reading of the samples were performed by a spe- cialist microbiologist, who has not notified the patient record. RESULTS: 114 out of 155 patients who finally enrolled into the study had a medical history, 69 had sexual behavior and 72 sexual habits that predispose to chronic prostatitis. The clinical examination was not diagnostic in 43.8% of cases. The urethral smear and sperm culture diagnosed coexistent urethral infection in 22 cases. 54 out of the 72 positive EPS/VB3/PPM cultures grew one, 11 two to three and 5 cultures grew more than three different organisms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study debate some widely accepted considerations on the etiology and diagnosis of chronic prostatitis and highlight the uncertainties and controversies regarding chronic prostatitis etiology, pathophysiology, presentation and diagnosis. KEY WORDS: Chronic prostatitis, Meares-Stamey test, Lower urinary tract symptoms Accepted: May 20, 2013 ORIGINAL ARTICLE INTRODUCTION Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a very common urologic condi- tion. It has been estimated that up to half of male popula- tion worldwide suffer from symptoms of prostatitis at some time in their lives (1). Despite the progress made in recent years in understanding and diagnosing chronic prostatitis, many cases are still underdiagnosed and undertreated. The reasons are not known, however, incomplete under- standing of pathophysiology, variety of clinical presenta- tion and findings as well as misinterpretation of laboratory findings may contribute to the above-mentioned problems. The purpose of this study is to identify prostatitis patients among men suffering of pelvic discomfort, genital pain, lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Moreover, the epidemiological data of patients with CP are investigated and associated with data from medical his- tory, clinical examination and laboratory tests. PROOF FOR APPROVAL