Chronic Infectious Complications of Recreational Urethral Sounding With Retained Foreign Body

Abstract

The practice of recreational urethral sounding involves insertion of foreign body in the urethra usually for sexual gratification. We present a case of a 62-year-old male with longstanding recurrent urinary tract infections complicated with Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia, discitis, and osteomyelitis at T12-L1 vertebral level associated with left psoas abscess secondary to a retained foreign body inserted into his urethra and urinary bladder. He had extraction of foreign body, cystoscopy, and open cystolithotripsy. He received long-term antibiotics and back surgery resulting in residual chronic back pain. This case illustrates important chronic infectious complications associated with the high-risk sexual practice of urethral sounding.