Short versus long course therapy in the treatment of febrile urinary tract infections in men based on serum PSA values

Abstract

BackgroundFebrile urinary tract infections (fUTI) in men are frequently complicated with subclinical prostatic involvement, measured by a transient increase in serum prostate-specific-antigen (sPSA). The aim of this study was to evaluate recurrence rates in a 6-month follow-up period of 2-week versus 4-week antibiotic treatment in men with fUTI, based on prostatic involvement. Clinical and microbiological cure rates at the end-of-therapy (EoT) were also assessed. MethodsOpen label, not-controlled, prospective study. Consecutive men diagnosed of fUTI were included. Duration of therapy was 2 weeks for patients with a sPSA level <5mg/L (short duration therapy, SDT) or 4 weeks for PSA >5 mg/L (long duration therapy, LDT). ResultsNinety-one patients were included; 19 (20%) received SDT. Median age was 56.9 years (range 23-88). Bacteremia was present in 9.8% of patients (Escherichia coli was isolated in 91%). Both groups had similar demographic, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings. Median PSA levels were 2.3 mg/L in the SDT group vs 23.4 mg/L in the LDT group. In the 6-month visit, 26% of patients had achieved complete follow-up. Nonsignificant differences between groups were found neither in recurrence rates after 6 months (9% in SDT vs 10% in LDT) nor in clinical or microbiological cure rates at EoT (100% in SDT vs 95% in LDT and 95% in SDT vs 93% in LDT respectively). ConclusionsOne fifth of men with fUTI did not present apparent prostatic involvement. A 2-week regimen seems adequate in terms of clinical, microbiological cure and recurrence rates for those patients without PSA elevation.