Frequency of bacteria, Candida and Malassezia species in balanoposthitis

Balanoposthitis is an inflammatory disorder of the prepuce and glans penis. Microbes involved in balanoposthitis have been investigated, but no single study has covered the growth of both bacteria, Candida and Malassezia. We report here the prevalence of these microbes in 100 patients with balanoposthitis and in 26 control patients. Among patients with balanoposthitis there was a significantly higher frequency of positive cultures than in the control group (59% and 35%, respectively, p < 0.05). In the balanoposthitis group Staphylococcus aureus was found in 19%, group B streptococci in 9%, Candida albicans in 18% and Malassezia in 23% of patients. In the control group S. aureus was not found at all, whereas C. albicans was found in 7.7% and Malassezia in 23% of patients. Different microbes did not correspond with distinct clinical manifestations. In summary, we report increased frequency of microbes, specifically S. aureus, in the area of the prepuce and glans penis in balanoposthitis.