The Effect of a Urinary Infection on PSA Level

A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) laboratory test measures the blood level of a protein produced by the prostate gland in men. While a high PSA level may be the first sign of prostate cancer, there are a number of conditions and disorders that also can elevate the reading.

Types

• According to the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center, a urinary tract infection (UTI) can raise a man’s PSA. The infection may involve the man’s kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra or prostate gland.

Effects

• An elevated PSA may also be related to diagnostic procedures performed to determine whether a man has a urinary tract infection. For example, the insertion of a urinary catheter to obtain a sterile urine specimen can temporarily raise a man’s PSA.

Significance

• The PSA test does not definitively diagnose prostate cancer, but it is an effective screening tool to identify men at high risk for that cancer.

Considerations

• It’s a good idea for men to defer PSA testing if they have symptoms of a UTI, including pain or burning with urination, urine that is foul-smelling or bloody, or the frequent need to urinate.

Tip

• If a doctor determines a man’s PSA is elevated because of a UTI, he will order a repeat PSA lab test to be done after the infection has cleared up.