PROSTATITIS; AN EVALUATION OF LABORATORY PROCEDURES AND OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NITROFURANTOIN.

An estimate of the pus content of prostatic fluid is as good as a count in a counting chamber. There is no correlation between the pus content and the severity of symptoms. Of all of the criteria for making a diagnosis of prostatitis, the pus content of the fluid is the least important. Culture of prostatic fluid is of very little, if any, value for making a diagnosis or guiding treatment. The results of treatment of chronic prostatitis by prostatic massage only, are as good as those obtained by massage plus nitrofurantoin. Acute and subacute prostatitis responded well to nitrofurantoin, and there seemed less likelihood of recurrence when the drug was continued in small doses for four weeks.