Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, a purely male organ.
Bacterial prostatitis differs from other forms in that it is caused by contact with microorganisms (bacteria). Bacterial prostatitis can be acute or chronic.
The prevalence of bacterial prostatitis among all prostatitis:
- acute prostatitis - 5-10%;
- chronic prostatitis - 6-10%.
Causes of bacterial prostatitis
Most often this pathology is caused by such microorganisms:
- intestinal and Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- Enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus;
- proteus;
- Klebsiela;
- Enterobacter;
- series.
Most of these microorganisms are part of the body's normal microflora. When the protective properties of the body are reduced, these bacteria can cause prostatitis.
Other microorganisms that cause bacterial prostatitis include fungi, chlamydia, trichomonas, and ureaplasma.
Factors contributing to the development of 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 congestion) 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 (alcohol abuse, 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 develop;
- purulent whitish or colorless discharge from the urethra sometimes appears.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is asymptomatic or with an erased clinical picture during remission. As the disease worsens, its symptoms resemble those of acute bacterial prostatitis. With chronic bacterial prostatitis, erectile dysfunction can develop.
Diagnosis of bacterial prostatitis
The diagnosis of acute bacterial prostatitis is made when the following are present:
- characteristic complaints described above;
- during a digital rectal examination, the prostate is edematous and painful;
- in the general blood test, an increase in the number of leukocytes and an acceleration of the ESR are observed;
- in the general analysis of urine, a large number of leukocytes can be detected;
- also confirm the diagnostic data of the ultrasound of the prostate.
In the case of chronic bacterial prostatitis, there are usually no symptoms during the remission phase.
To confirm chronic bacterial prostatitis, the presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the tissues of the prostate is determined. To do this, take a smear from the secretion of the prostate, which is then examined under the microscope. With bacterial prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes is observed in the smear.
Urine or prostate secretions are also seeded onto a nutrient medium to determine the growth and sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics.
Another way to diagnose chronic prostatitis is to measure your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) titer.
Complications of bacterial prostatitis
The most common complication of acute bacterial prostatitis is the transition to a chronic form. This is facilitated by the late start of treatment, interruption of the course of treatment, irregular intake of drugs.
Bacterial prostatitis can also be complicated by an abscess of the prostate or the occurrence of 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 flare-ups. This can be achieved by adhering to the following principles:
- Overflowing the bladder should be avoided.
- Dress for the weather so you don't get cold.
- Sex life should be regular, while both long abstinence and excessive sexual activity are harmful. Prolonged or interrupted sexual intercourse can also make chronic prostatitis worse.
- With occasional sexual intercourse, it is necessary to protect yourself so as not to contract sexually transmitted diseases.
- Refuse to abuse alcohol and spicy food.
- 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, the presence of concomitant diseases.
With chronic bacterial prostatitis, anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.
For a speedy recovery, as well as to enhance the therapeutic effect in chronic prostatitis, prostate massage is prescribed. This procedure helps to clean hard-to-reach areas of the prostate from microorganisms. But it is precisely in these areas that bacteria stagnate and multiply, which leads to the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis.