The three-glass test yields excellent results for diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis: Study from a Pakistani tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background:

Prostatitis is a common disorder affecting 10–14% of men. Chronic prostatitis is a bothersome disease affecting young, middle-aged and elderly men. Routine cultures often fail to localise the source of infection. Although the four-glass test is considered for evaluating chronic prostatitis, the three-glass urine test can also be performed. This test yields excellent results.

Methods:

Overall, 144 cases of Pakistani origin were enrolled. A three-glass test was performed, and the samples were labelled as VB1, VB2 and VB3+ expressed prostatic secretions (EPS). Qualitative culture and drug sensitivity test were performed for 16 antimicrobials.

Results:

Samples from 127 patients (M_age = 37 years) were analysed. Chronic bacterial prostatitis was identified in 81 (63.77%) patients.

Conclusion:

In more than half of the cases examined in this study, the bacteria were localised to the prostate.

Level of evidence:

IIIb