[Fundamental study on the collection of prostatic fluid using catheter]

The catheter for expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) collection was newly developed for the purpose of protecting EPS from the contamination of the urethral bacteria. This catheter is blind-ended, and has several lateral windows and a balloon between the end and the windows. The procedure of EPS collection using this catheter is as follows; first the catheter is inserted into the urethra, then a balloon is blown up. The catheter is extracted during massage of the prostate and finally EPS is aspirated through the internal lumen of the catheter. In 23 male patients who had neither urinary tract infection nor genital infection, this catheter method was carried out. Before inserting the catheter, the urethral swab was obtained, then culture of the swab and the EPS was done. The catheter method protected against contamination with bacteria in 56%, with Ureaplasma urealyticum in 40%, and all contaminations in 44% of all cases.