Acute prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is the most frequent urologic diagnosis in men <50 years old.

Commonly caused by Escherichia coli bacteria.

Can cause extreme lower abdominal, ejaculatory, rectal, and perineal pain.

May be successfully treated with antibiotics, but a prolonged course is frequently required if chronic prostatitis follows the acute occurrence.

Acute prostatitis is a painful inflammation within the prostate that is usually accompanied by evidence of recent or ongoing bacterial infection. Its hallmark is the acute onset of lower urinary tract symptoms (e.g., dysuria, urinary frequency, perineal discomfort) accompanied by variable systemic signs of fever, chills, and malaise.[1]Rothman JR, Jaffe WI. Prostatitis: updates on diagnostic evaluation. Curr Urol Rep. 2007 Jul;8(4):301-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18519014?tool=bestpractice.com Acute prostatitis may cause referred pain into the genitalia, perineum, and lower back or suprapubic areas.[1]Rothman JR, Jaffe WI. Prostatitis: updates on diagnostic evaluation. Curr Urol Rep. 2007 Jul;8(4):301-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18519014?tool=bestpractice.com It stands in contradistinction to chronic prostatitis, a condition of prolonged prostatic irritation lasting ≥3 months that may be bacterial or abacterial in nature. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by persistent prostatitis or recurrent urinary tract infections.[2]Krieger JN, Lee SW, Jeon J, et al. Epidemiology of prostatitis. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008 Feb;31(suppl 1):S85-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2292121 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18164907?tool=bestpractice.com Chronic pelvic pain originating in the prostate, or prostatodynia, completes the clinical presentations associated with the symptom complex.[2]Krieger JN, Lee SW, Jeon J, et al. Epidemiology of prostatitis. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008 Feb;31(suppl 1):S85-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2292121 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18164907?tool=bestpractice.com