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Urology (Expert Forum)
Staph infection
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Staph infection
by PC4447, Sep 16, 2006 12:00AM
I posted a question last week… last year I began experiencing penile and testicular pain after an evening of unprotected sex. My sebaceous glands simultaneously began to protrude from the surface of my shaft and testicles. I’ve been seeing a urologist who prescribed me a series of antibiotics that failed to relieve the symptoms.
About a week and a half ago, my urologist preformed a prostate massage and took a urine sample immediately afterward. He sent the sample to be cultured, and they detected staph bacteria. He prescribed me ciprofloxacin (twice a day for 60 days); I’ve taken it for a few days, and I’ve noticed a very slight improvement. I asked him if a topical antibiotic would assist in relieving the bumps and disomfort, and he prescribed me nystatin and triamcinolone cream, along with three tablets of fluconazole. My questions:
1. Can I assume that my symptoms are the cause of a staph infection that will eventually be taken care of by antibiotics?
2. Why did my urologist prescribe an anti-fungal cream to relieve a staph infection?
3. How long should it take for me to begin noticing a decrease in my symptoms (due to the antibiotic and antifungal treatment)?
Thanks for your time.
About a week and a half ago, my urologist preformed a prostate massage and took a urine sample immediately afterward. He sent the sample to be cultured, and they detected staph bacteria. He prescribed me ciprofloxacin (twice a day for 60 days); I’ve taken it for a few days, and I’ve noticed a very slight improvement. I asked him if a topical antibiotic would assist in relieving the bumps and disomfort, and he prescribed me nystatin and triamcinolone cream, along with three tablets of fluconazole. My questions:
1. Can I assume that my symptoms are the cause of a staph infection that will eventually be taken care of by antibiotics?
2. Why did my urologist prescribe an anti-fungal cream to relieve a staph infection?
3. How long should it take for me to begin noticing a decrease in my symptoms (due to the antibiotic and antifungal treatment)?
Thanks for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Sep 17, 2006 12:00AM
, Sep 17, 2006 12:00AM
To answer your questions:
1) There are better antibiotics than Cipro to treat Staph. The only way to be sure is the obtain a culture and evaluate whether it is sensitive to Cipro. If not, changing the antibiotic can be considered.
2) It is likely he/she is thinking that a fungal infection superimposed on the staph may be worsening your symptoms.
3) If the bacteria is sensitive to the antibiotics, improvement should be seen within weeks.
These questions should be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
1) There are better antibiotics than Cipro to treat Staph. The only way to be sure is the obtain a culture and evaluate whether it is sensitive to Cipro. If not, changing the antibiotic can be considered.
2) It is likely he/she is thinking that a fungal infection superimposed on the staph may be worsening your symptoms.
3) If the bacteria is sensitive to the antibiotics, improvement should be seen within weeks.
These questions should be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
Member Comments (1)
by reallynervous1, Sep 22, 2006 12:00AM
To: Misc. (Urology)
0
by needsum, Aug 05, 2007 03:39AM
To: Dr Pho
Back in November, 2006, my husband developed some sores on his penis...maybe kind of like a rash. He told me he had them, but I didn't really look. Then he told me it was more and more painful. For several months his penis has been retracted and can't come out. He has to sit to urinate and sex is impossible...not that I would want to with a rash or whatever. Anyway, he went to the Dr in December and he gave him an antibiotic and prescribed miconozil (sp?). None of that helped. He asked the Dr again in February and he sent him to the urologist. He saw the urologist finally in April or May. I could not go with him, but my husband says the Dr blew him off and told him it is a heat rash because he "is so fat" (300lbs, 5' 11"). Now my husband refuses to ask a Dr anymore, but I'm really concerned that this is continuing. Could this be a staph infection and what exactly can we ask of a Dr or demand of them? We have Kaiser and most of their Dr's are new to the profession and lack empathy and broad intelligence or the desire to help. They are fairly arrogent. Thank you for your help.
