Antibacterial activity of hydrocele fluid

We determined whether hydrocele fluid suppresses the growth of bacteria. Hydrocele fluid was obtained by needle aspiration from 25 patients with idiopathic hydrocele. Escherichia coli (10(5)-10(6) cells) was inoculated into the fluid (10 ml) and the bacterial number in the fluid was counted for 24 h. In most of the fluids the bacterial number increased for the first 2-12 h and then gradually decreased to a level below the inoculum number. In the fluids that had been bathed at 56 degrees C for 30 min, the bacterial number continued increasing. These results suggest that hydrocele fluid mostly possesses antibacterial activity and also, that complement in the fluid may participate in this activity.