{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T00:48:09Z","timestamp":1777855689064,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Am J Mens Health"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Prostate inflammation is a common condition in men characterized by swelling of the prostate gland, often associated with other prostate diseases. Understanding the role of chronic inflammation in prostatic diseases is important due to the changes in prostatic cells and the persistence when undiagnosed. The evaluation and management of chronic prostatitis (CP) and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) involve specific diagnostic tests. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection kits that use multiplex real-time PCR in comparison to standard microbiology sperm culture for detecting pathogens in individuals with CP and CPP. This retrospective observational study analyzed data from a database of 68 patients, aged 50.1 \u00b1 17.8 years and treated at a secondary care urology center. PCR testing detected at least one microorganism in 63\/68 samples (92.6%), while conventional culture yielded positive results in 12\/68 cases (17.6%). The most detected microorganisms by PCR were the\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Bacteroides\/Porphyromonas\/Prevotella<\/jats:italic>\n                    group (61.8%). Most of the samples were found to be polymicrobial, with the most common high-order combination consisting of\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Anaerococcus<\/jats:italic>\n                    spp.,\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Atopobium<\/jats:italic>\n                    cluster,\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Bacteroides\/Porphyromonas\/Prevotella<\/jats:italic>\n                    ,\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Megasphaera\/Veillonella\/Dialister<\/jats:italic>\n                    , and\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Peptostreptococcus<\/jats:italic>\n                    \/\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">Parvimonas<\/jats:italic>\n                    . This study concluded that PCR is more effective than traditional sperm culture in detecting organisms (\n                    <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; .05), especially in identifying polymicrobial infections and fastidious microorganisms in patients with CP and CPP. PCR has higher sensitivity in detecting pathogens, including those often missed by standard culture techniques, leading to improved clinical outcomes, particularly in cases of polymicrobial infection.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/15579883261418248","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,31]],"date-time":"2026-01-31T14:13:58Z","timestamp":1769868838000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Advances of Polymerase Chain Reaction Sperm Testing in Men With Chronic Prostatitis and Pelvic Pain Syndrome"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7857-6056","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maja","family":"Sofronievska Glavinov","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip, North Macedonia"},{"name":"Urology Department, University Surgery Hospital St. Naum Ohridski, Skopje, North Macedonia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ognen","family":"Tochko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Urology Department, University Surgery Hospital St. Naum Ohridski, Skopje, North Macedonia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Senol","family":"Tahir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip, North Macedonia"},{"name":"Visceral Surgery Department, University Surgery Hospital St. Naum Ohridski, Skopje, North Macedonia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stefan","family":"Arsov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip, North Macedonia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Anothaisintawee T. (2011). Management of chronic prostatitis\/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome. JAMA 305(1) 78. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jama.2010.1913","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2010.1913"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cai T. Mazzoli S. Meacci F. Boddi V. Mondaini N. Malossini G. Bartoletti R. (2011). Epidemiological features and resistance pattern in uropathogens isolated from chronic bacterial prostatitis. The Journal of Microbiology 49(3) 448\u2013454. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12275-011-0391-z","DOI":"10.1007\/s12275-011-0391-z"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Elia J. Hafron J. Holton M. Ervin C. Hollander M. B. Kapoor D. A. (2024). The impact of polymerase chain reaction urine testing on clinical decision-making in the management of complex urinary tract infections. 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The clinical validity and utility of PCR compared to conventional culture and sensitivity testing for the management of complicated urinary tract infections in adults: A secondary (Ad Hoc) analysis of pathogen detection resistance profiles and impact on clinical outcomes. Microorganisms 13(4) 949. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/microorganisms13040949","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13040949"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leech L. Bigley C. Chew M. Crawford A. Vawter J. Patel M. P. (2025). Expanded PCR panel for uropathogen identification and treatment recommendations in urinary tract infections. Therapeutic Advances in Urology 17 17562872251342420. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/17562872251342421","DOI":"10.1177\/17562872251342421"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Magri V. Marras E. Perletti G. (2011). Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Enterococcal disease? Clinical Infectious Diseases 53(12) 1306\u20131307. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/cid\/cir709","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/cir709"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Magri V. Perletti G. Stamatiou K. (2025). Pathogen detection and diagnostic scenarios in chronic prostatitis. Diagnostics 15(6) 762. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/diagnostics15060762","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15060762"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naber K. G. (2002). Lomefloxacin versus ciprofloxacin in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 20(1) 18\u201327. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S0924-8579(02)00067-5","DOI":"10.1016\/S0924-8579(02)00067-5"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nickel J. C. (2011). Prostatitis. 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