Frequency of Urinary Tract Infections, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia in Emergency Department Patients With Acute Scrotal Pain

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 13; no. 7; p. e16347
• Main Authors: Greenstein, Josh, Babson, Victoria, Frisolone, Jenna, Janiszewski, Brianna, Kyvik, Samantha, Mason, Brooke, Paduch, Michaela, Igneri, Tara, Hahn, Barry, D'Antoni, Anthony V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto (CA) Cureus 12.07.2021
• Subjects: Emergency Medicine; Infectious Disease; Urology
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16347

BACKGROUNDAcute scrotal pain has many causes. According to the American Urological Association recommendations: history, physical examination, and ultrasound are key in diagnosing acute scrotal pain. OBJECTIVEThe primary objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTI) on routine Urinalysis (UA) in patients presenting with acute scrotal pain to the emergency department (ED). METHODSWe conducted a multicentered retrospective chart review of patients who presented to the ED with acute scrotal pain. Patient visits from February 1, 2018 to November 1, 2019 from 13 EDs were analyzed. Demographic data, UA interpretation, urine culture, gonorrhea and chlamydia (GC) testing, clinical findings, treatment outcomes, and ultrasounds were recorded. Patients who did not have a UA and scrotal ultrasound performed or who had a diagnosis of scrotal cellulitis or soft tissue infection were excluded. RESULTSThere were 2,392 patients included in the study. A UTI was present in 173 (7.2%) patients. Of the patients who were found to have a UTI, 100/173 (57.8%) had a concomitant ultrasound diagnosis of epididymitis/orchitis. Also, 731 patients underwent GC testing in addition to standard UA collection, and ultrasound, seven were positive for gonorrhea (0.95%), and 30 were positive for chlamydia (4.10%). CONCLUSIONSRoutine UA collection of patients presenting to the ED with acute scrotal pain should be considered, especially in patients with a concomitant ultrasound diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis. GC testing has limited yield without symptoms suggestive of sexually transmitted infections and a normal ultrasound.