Written by Dr.Albana Greca Sejdini, Md, MMedSc

All you need to know about Bacterial Prostatitis

Bacterial prostatitis is a medical condition of the prostate, when any bacterial infection cause irritation of the prostate and makes it be inflammed and swollen.

In more practical term, it means inflammation of the prostate due to bacterial infection. It is very common among younger men (men in their 30s-50s), but it can also affect elderly men.

NIH classified the prostatitis into 4 categories, only the first two conditions are caused by bacterial infection.

  • Acute
  • Chronic
  • Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis
  • Prostatodynia

Figure

About eighty two percent of all prostatitis bacterial-type are caused by a single type of bacteria, but in some cases 2 or 3 types may be implicated.

Furthermore, it is proved that micro-organisms responsible for acute prostatitis bacterial can be also isolated from the majority of urinary tract infections.

Therefore, acute prostatitis from bacteria is mainly caused by: Escherichia coli (most common), proteus mirabilis, klebsiella species, enterobacter species, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and serratia species.

Rarely, other types of causative micro-organisms are involved, like neisseria gonorrhea, mycobacterium tuberculosis, salmonella species, and clostridium species; also, genital viruses, parasites, as well as mycotic organisms are implicated.

The infection can reach prostatic tissue via two main routes:


  • The bacteria from a former urethral infection spread via prostatic ducts to the main gland
  • Coming back of the infected urine to the prostate gland

In men, chronic bacterial prostatitis is the main cause of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), i.e. chronic bacterial prostatitis is manifested by over lasting bacterial infection of the prostate gland.

Usually, the particular strain of bacteria seen in prostatic fluid or in urine will be the same causative organism which causes the infection to recur or persist.

Because, the acute prostatitis is accompanied by several types of infections in various parts of the urinary tract; so symptoms will include:

  • Frequent, painful, and urgent urination
  • Weak urine stream
  • Pain at the penile area, and around the anus
  • Painful ejaculation

Also, there are general symptoms due to infection, including:

  • High body temperature (fever), shakes and chills
  • Generalized body weakness and fatigue

The digital examination performed by the doctor will reveal the prostate to be swollen, hot, painful and irregular. NIH advises its doctors to avoid violent digital examination to minimize the spread of bacterial infection in the blood circulation.

Symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis are nearly similar to the symptoms of acute prostatitis, but with less intensity. Sometimes, chronic prostatitis is asymptomatic. But, usually there are some symptoms, including:

  • Increased frequency of urination, and dysuria (painful urination)
  • Pain in the lower back area, testacies, tip of penis, and around the anus
  • Impotence
  • Low grade fever associated with pain in joints and muscles
  • Generalized body aches The digital examination will reveal thick discharge coming from inflamed urethra, and pain in epididymis. 


Related topics:


  1.  For recognizing the main Prostatitis Symptom.
  1. Get to know the whole story on Prostatitis Treatment.
  1. Retur to Prostate drugs
  1. Return to prostatitis diet




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