Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, which is a purely male organ.
Bacterial prostatitis differs from other forms in that it develops as a result of contact with microorganisms (bacteria). Bacterial prostatitis can be acute or chronic.
Incidence of bacterial prostatitis among all prostatitis:
- acute prostatitis - 5-10%;
- chronic prostatitis - 6-10%.
Causes of bacterial prostatitis
This pathology is most commonly caused by the following microorganisms:
- intestinal and Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus;
- Proteus;
- klebsiela;
- enterobacter;
- seration.
Most of these microorganisms are part of the body's normal microflora. If the protective properties of the body are reduced, these bacteria can cause prostatitis.
Other microorganisms that cause bacterial prostatitis include fungi, chlamydia, Trichomonas, and ureaplasmas.
Factors contributing to prostatitis:
- hypothermia;
- irregular sex life, abstinence from sex;
- decreased immunity;
- hormonal diseases accompanied by a lack of male sex hormones in the body;
- circulatory disorders (blood clots) in the pelvic organs;
- sexually transmitted diseases.
The development of chronic bacterial prostatitis is also facilitated by:
- systematic premature emptying of the bladder;
- bad habits (alcoholism, smoking);
- concomitant diseases of the urinary system (e. g. pyelonephritis);
- sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms of bacterial prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- general intoxication (weakness, chills, fever);
- pain in the groin and perineum;
- frequent and painful urination, especially at night;
- urination may be difficult, in rare cases acute urinary retention may occur;
- sometimes purulent, whitish, or colorless discharge appears from the urethra.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is asymptomatic or has a clear clinical picture in remission. When the disease worsens, its symptoms are similar to those of acute bacterial prostatitis. Chronic bacterial prostatitis can cause erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis of bacterial prostatitis
Acute bacterial prostatitis is diagnosed in the presence of:
- the typical complaints described above;
- digital rectal examination of the prostate is edematous and painful;
- an increase in the number of leukocytes and an acceleration of the ESR are observed in a general blood test;
- a large number of leukocytes can be detected in the general urine analysis;
- also confirms the diagnosis of ultrasound of the prostate.
There is usually no complaint in chronic bacterial prostatitis during remission.
To confirm chronic bacterial prostatitis, the presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the tissues of the prostate gland is determined. To do this, make a smear of prostate secretions, which will then be studied under a microscope. In the case of bacterial prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes is observed in the smear.
Urine or prostate secretions are also applied to medium to determine bacterial growth and susceptibility to antibiotics.
Another method for determining chronic prostatitis is to determine the titre of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Complications of bacterial prostatitis
The most common complication of acute bacterial prostatitis is the transition to a chronic form. This is facilitated by starting treatment late, stopping treatment, and taking medications irregularly.
In addition, bacterial prostatitis can be complicated by the appearance of an abscess in the prostate or a fistula.
Prevention of bacterial prostatitis
In chronic bacterial prostatitis, the main task is to prevent the disease from getting worse or to reduce the number of relapses. This can be achieved by following the principles below:
- Overflow of the bladder should be avoided.
- Dress according to the weather so you don't get cold.
- Sex life should be regular, while long abstinence and excessive sexual activity are both harmful. Prolonged or interrupted sexual contact can also exacerbate chronic prostatitis.
- In the case of casual sexual contact, care must be taken not to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
- Avoid alcohol and spicy foods.
- Do not wear tight clothing (especially underwear).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
The main drugs used to treat bacterial prostatitis are broad-spectrum antibiotics. The duration of taking antibiotics is 2-8 weeks, depending on the clinical picture of the disease and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed for chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Prostate massage is prescribed to enhance rapid healing as well as the therapeutic effect of chronic prostatitis. This procedure helps to clean hard-to-reach areas of the prostate from microorganisms. But in these areas, the bacteria stagnate and multiply, leading to the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis.