Low load of e.coli in semen / MicrogenDX semen test / chronic urethritis

[Jkrungthep]

I am having chronic urethritis symptoms for half year or more. A bit of clear sticky discharge inside the penis and frequency and nocturia (often caused by a strange feeling of urge inside the penis). 
 

All tests so far (standard urine, semen, swab cultures; urinalysis; 8-10 multiplex PCR STI tests) were negative. 
 

I recently did a semen test through MicrogenDX which showed several bacteria of which most I understand are common skin flora. The two that raised my suspicion were:

 

1) There’s a bit of e.coli found, though only 2%.

2) The highest load is for Propionibacterium Acnes which I found in some research papers about prostate inflammation. 
 

A previous MicrogenDX urine test only showed bacteria which I understand are common skin flora (Staphylococcus Warneri 55%, Staphylococcus Epidermis 33%, Staphylococcus Haemolyticus 7%). 
 

Any idea what to do with this? 
Can this be transmitted when having sex? Both MicrogenDX tests also tested for 7 STI and were negative (same as the multiplex tests in the hospital here), but I feel like this could be related to having unprotected sex with different people in the past. 

Edited February 4, 2020 by Jkrungthep

[bkk6060]

Are you on antibiotics?

I had something similar although it was 20 years ago.

Eventually went into my testicles took me almost 9 months to get over it.

Several strong antibiotics unfortunately prostate infections are not easy to get rid of.

Edited February 4, 2020 by bkk6060

[Jkrungthep]

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Are you on antibiotics?

I had something similar although it was 20 years ago.

Eventually went into my testicles took me almost 9 months to get over it.

Several strong antibiotics unfortunately prostate infections are not easy to get rid of.

Currently not on antibiotics. Took Doxycycline and Azithromyzin before which only provided temporary relief. I had dull ache in the testicles but that got better. Same for some itch around the anus which disappeared. 

[NCC1701A]

I had a Streptococcus infection which is not considered a STD but I had the same symptoms as you.

 

And I can tell you the name of the woman in Pattaya who gave it to me.  Her name is Unprotected Oral Sex.

 

The Strep was antibiotic resistant so it took four different rounds of antibiotics to knock it out.

 

Edited February 4, 2020 by NCC1701A

[Jkrungthep]

45 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I had a Streptococcus infection which is not considered a STD but I had the same symptoms as you.

 

And I can tell you the name of the woman in Pattaya who gave it to me.  Her name is Unprotected Oral Sex.

 

The Strep was antibiotic resistant so it took four different rounds of antibiotics to knock it out.

 

May I ask how it was diagnosed and treated? Did the hospital do a culture and found bacteria in there? 

[Sheryl]

This is way above my pay grade and you need to discuss with a urologist familiar with MicrogenDX

 

With any culture, contamination of the sample from contact with external skin is always an issue and it looks like the bugs shown are all ones that would be normally found on the skin especially since the number of organisms is quite small.

 

On the other hand they anaroebic which would require different treatment from what you have likely had so far IF real and not a contaminant.

 

Doesn't MicrogenDX  offer some  sort of virtual consultation on results?

[Jkrungthep]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

This is way above my pay grade and you need to discuss with a urologist familiar with MicrogenDX

(...)
Doesn't MicrogenDX  offer some  sort of virtual consultation on results?

I was going to ask them. Don’t think there’s anyone here in Thailand I could consult (the ID doc at Bumrungrad didn’t even know MicrogenDX). 
 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

With any culture, contamination of the sample from contact with external skin is always an issue and it looks like the bugs shown are all ones that would be normally found on the skin especially since the number of organisms is quite small.

That’s what I thought after googling them. The main concern was the e.coli, but then it’s only 2% so I’m not sure to what extent that could be the culprit. 

 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

On the other hand they anaroebic which would require different treatment from what you have likely had so far IF real and not a contaminant.

You lost me here. Could explain what you mean? Is this referring to the common skin bacteria or the e.coli? 

 

[Sheryl]

Not the E. Coli which is also in such trace amounts as to be unlikely. The ones at the top of the list. 

 

Anaerobic bacteria do mot respo d to the same antibiotics as aerobic bacteria. But, these could also be contaminants. 

[NCC1701A]

 

2 hours ago, Jkrungthep said:

May I ask how it was diagnosed and treated? Did the hospital do a culture and found bacteria in there? 

yes they took a sample of the very small fluid discharge from the tip of my plumbing and it came back negative for traditional STD's but found Strep. My symptoms were different than that of Gonorrhea or Chlamydia meaning far less discharge. like almost none. clear fluid not milky or other colors. slight itch and that "shooting" feeling running up to your to your bladder.

 

they had a chart of the most effective antibiotics currently for Strep. I was traveling so hospitals were Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, San Paulo hospital Hua Hin (never again) and Bangkok hospital Hua Hin where they finally got the right antibiotic that worked.

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2020 by NCC1701A

[justin case]

cystitis or maybe HSV2 ?

[Jkrungthep]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

 

yes they took a sample of the very small fluid discharge from the tip of my plumbing and it came back negative for traditional STD's but found Strep.

I tried that several times. Always came back negative. I’m suspecting it’s just not enough discharge, and that they’re not going deep inside enough with the swab (I had one in Europe where they would push so deep that it would hurt). But that’s just my guess. 

 

 

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

My symptoms were different than that of Gonorrhea or Chlamydia meaning far less discharge. like almost none. clear fluid not milky or other colors. slight itch and that "shooting" feeling running up to your to your bladder.

Same here except for the shooting feeling. Just a feeling of itch / pressure / fullness inside the tip region. 

 

 

[Throwaway123]

On 2/4/2020 at 12:27 PM, Jkrungthep said:

I was going to ask them. Don’t think there’s anyone here in Thailand I could consult (the ID doc at Bumrungrad didn’t even know MicrogenDX). 

Hi,

Where did you get the MicrogenDX test done? Did you do the test on your own? Requesting and sending the specimen from Thailand? 

Thanks! 

[Boomer6969]

On 2/4/2020 at 11:15 AM, Sheryl said:

This is way above my pay grade and you need to discuss with a urologist familiar with MicrogenDX

 

With any culture, contamination of the sample from contact with external skin is always an issue and it looks like the bugs shown are all ones that would be normally found on the skin especially since the number of organisms is quite small.

 

On the other hand they anaroebic which would require different treatment from what you have likely had so far IF real and not a contaminant.

 

Doesn't MicrogenDX  offer some  sort of virtual consultation on results?

Leads to ask the OP  how the sample was taken (sterile gloves, etc.).. ????

[xylophone]

On 2/4/2020 at 10:16 AM, NCC1701A said:

And I can tell you the name of the woman in Pattaya who gave it to me.  Her name is Unprotected Oral Sex.

 

I don't think that many men realise they can catch a UTI through oral sex, as I certainly didn't, but when I had symptoms of a UTI, none of which responded to normal antibiotics, a culture was taken and it turned out to be streptococcus sanguis, which is a bacteria often present in the mouth, and can be responsible for serious heart valve problems, and has sometimes been found in the urinary tract.

 

Tests were done and I was prescribed a daily intravenous injection of an antibiotic I'd never heard of, and this went on for 14 days (hospital visits) until it was finally cured.

 

Very expensive with a cost of over 50,000 baht for the treatment, so please beware – – and for the record, in my research into prostatitis, a few medical folk/specialists who have specialised in this area have indicated that there are many different types of bacteria etc which can cause prostate symptoms, and many normal/ordinary tests will not uncover them.