Bacteriological and serological study of chronic prostatitis patients.

Chronic prostatitis is not uncommon in men over 50 years, though it can occur at any age. The organ- isms most commonly isolated from the prostatic secretion are staphylococci, streptococci, coliform bacilli, and diphtheroids. Nickel (1930) in 3,500 cultures found streptococci in 38 per cent., staphylococci in 54 per cent., bacilli in 24 per cent., and diphtheroids and diplobacilli in 9 per cent. Ritter and Lippow (1938) studied 131 cases and isolated strepto- cocci in 54, staphylococci in 27, other cocci in 18, colon bacilli in four, diphtheroids in 22, and no organisms in six. Cumming and Chittenden (1938), in a series of 175 cases, isolated staphylococci in 50 per cent., colon bacilli in 30 per cent., streptococci in 5 per cent., gonococci in 5 per cent., diphtheroids in 2 per cent., and no organisms in 8 per cent.