Audit on the management of epididymo-orchitis by the Department of Urology in Edinburgh

Abstract

Epididymo-orchitis among men younger than 35 years is mainly caused by chlamydial infection. National guidelines for the management of this condition have been published. The aim of this study was to audit the management of epididymo-orchitis in a major teaching hospital. To this end we performed a retrospective study of patients with epididymo-orchitis admitted to the Department of Urology in the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh between 1998 and 2003. Case-notes of 108 cases of epididymo-orchitis were reviewed. The diagnosis was established by ultrasound in 94% of cases. Patients were not tested routinely for chlamydial infection and the majority of men younger than 35 years were treated inappropriately with ciprofloxacin. The management of patients younger than 35 years was not in accordance with the recommendations of national guidelines. Chlamydia trachomatis is sexually transmissible and is not responsive to ciproflcxacin. As a result of this audit, each patient will be tested for chlamydial infection and men younger than 35 years will be treated with ofloxacin. Sexual partners of patients with chlamydial infection will be treated in the department of genitourinary medicine.