This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

UTI in men

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

UTI in men is generally uncommon with men less than 50 years of age having a prevalence of about 0.1%. The low incidence may be due to their:

  • longer urethra
  • greater distance between the anus and urethral meatus
  • drier perimeatal environment
  • antibacterial activity of prostatic secretions (1)

Incidence is higher in infancy, the elderly (over the age of 65 years, the prevalence is about 10%) and in institutionalized patients (1).

Previously it was considered that a UTI in a young man was indicative of an underlying urologic abnormality, a bladder outlet obstruction or instrumentation and thus a complicated UTI (2). Now there is evidence that the strains of uropathogenic E. coli that cause pyelonephritis in young women may cause an uncomplicated UTI (generally cystitis) in young men.

The outcomes are potentially more serious in men than in women (3).

UTIs and infections of the male genital tract can be classified according to the predominant clinical symptoms:

  • uncomplicated lower UTI (cystitis)
  • uncomplicated pyelonephritis
  • complicated UTI with or without pyelonephritis
  • urosepsis
  • urethritis
  • special forms: prostatitis, epididymitis and orchitis (2)

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.