Sexual Health | Bacterial STIs and related conditions | Male Urethritis: Diagnosis and Management

Male Urethritis: Diagnosis and Management
Session Overview
Description
This session covers the investigation and management of male urethritis for those working in Level 3 sexual health care settings. Appropriate use of microscopy is discussed and explored.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe how to appropriately manage the initial presentation of symptomatic male urethritis
• Explain the appropriate use of near patient microscopy
• List the information required for patients diagnosed with urethritis regarding treatment, partner notification and sexual abstinence

Male urethritis, inflammation of the urthethra, is a common presenting complaint. It is a multifactorial condition which is sexually acquired in most (but not all) cases.

Urethritis is characterised by urethral discharge, dysuria and/or urethral discomfort, but can be asymptomatic.

The diagnosis of urethritis is confirmed by demonstrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) from a urethral smear, using light microscopy.

Urethritis is described as being either gonococcal (when Neisseria gonorrhoeae is detected) or non-gonoccocal (NGU) when it is not. The term NSU applied to non-gonoccocal non-chlamydial urethritis but should be avoided.

The most common pathogens of NGU are reviewed in Table 1, though in many cases, no specific organism is found.