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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
08:30
Mouse Models of Epididymitis Induced by Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns
Published on: December 12, 2025
Are antibiotics necessary for pediatric epididymitis?
Genevieve Santillanes1, Marianne Gausche-Hill, Roger J Lewis
1Department of Emergency Medicine, LAC + USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. gsantillanes@hotmail.com
Pediatric Emergency Care
|February 25, 2011
Summary
Bacterial infections are rare in pediatric epididymitis cases. Urine cultures are recommended for all pediatric patients diagnosed with epididymitis to identify bacterial causes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Epididymitis is a common diagnosis in pediatric emergency departments.
- Determining the bacterial cause is crucial for appropriate treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the percentage of pediatric epididymitis cases caused by bacteria.
- To identify predictors of positive urine cultures in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis over 11 years.
- Analysis of historical, physical, laboratory, and radiologic data.
- Positive urine culture defined as bacterial cause.
Main Results:
- 140 cases of pediatric epididymitis were reviewed.
- Only 4.1% of patients with urine cultures had positive results.
- No significant differences in age, temperature, or WBCs were found between patients with positive and negative cultures.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial infections are uncommon in pediatric epididymitis.
- Urine cultures are recommended for all pediatric patients with epididymitis due to the difficulty in predicting positive results.
- Antibiotic therapy may be reserved for infants, or those with pyuria or positive cultures.
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