The in vitro bactericidal effect of microwave energy on bacteria that cause prostatitis

Objectives. We investigated the in vitro nonthermal effects of microwaves delivered from Prostatron 2.0 on Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae. Methods. The fingers of powder-free, sterile gloves were ligated, and bacterial solutions were transferred into the remaining area of the glove. The gloves were then sealed using silk ligatures. One set of gloves was subjected to the microwave treatment while another set was placed in a temperature-matched waterbath to act as control samples. The gloves containing the treatment group were taped around the probe, at the site where microwave energy exits the probe. During the treatment period, the temperatures from the urethral probe and the rectal probe were carefully monitored. Results. The mean (±SD) energy delivered was 46.6 ± 9.5 kJ (range 30.0 to 59.5) for the 10 trials on E. coli and colony counts in the experimental microwaved gloves decreased significantly compared with control samples (5.26 ± 4.5 × 10 5 versus 10.16 ± 9.3 × 10 5 CFU/mL, P = 0.02). For the experiments on E. cloacae the mean (±SD) energy applied was 38.5 ± 12.5 kJ, and a significant decrease in colony counts of microwaved samples was also observed compared with controls (11.04 ± 4.8 × 10 5 versus 20.08 ± 10.1 × 10 5 CFU/mL, P = 0.004). Conclusions. Microwave energy, delivered from Prostatron 2.0, independent of heat production has an in vitro bactericidal effect on laboratory-cultured E. coli and E. cloacae.