Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, a purely male organ.
Bacterial prostatitis differs from other forms in that it develops as a result of exposure to microorganisms (bacteria). Bacterial prostatitis can be acute or chronic.
Prevalence of bacterial prostatitis among all prostatitis:
- acute prostatitis - 5-10%;
- chronic prostatitis - 6-10%.
Causes of bacterial prostatitis
This pathology is most often caused by such microorganisms:
- intestines and Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus;
- Proteus;
- klebsiela;
- enterobacter;
- seration.
Most of these microorganisms are part of the normal body microflora. If the protective properties of the body are reduced, then these bacteria can cause prostatitis.
Other microorganisms that cause bacterial prostatitis include fungi, chlamydia, trichomonas and ureaplasma.
Factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- hypothermia;
- irregular sex life, abstinence from sex;
- reduced immunity;
- hormonal diseases, accompanied by a lack of male sex hormones in the body;
- circulatory disorders (blood stasis) in the pelvic organs;
- sexually transmitted diseases.
The development of chronic bacterial prostatitis is also facilitated by:
- systematic untimely emptying of the bladder;
- bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking);
- concomitant diseases of the urinary system (for example, 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;
- sometimes a purulent whitish or colorless discharge appears from the urethra.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is asymptomatic or with an erased clinical picture during remission. When the disease worsens, the symptoms are similar to those of acute bacterial prostatitis. With chronic bacterial prostatitis, erectile dysfunction may develop.
Diagnosis of bacterial prostatitis
The diagnosis of acute bacterial prostatitis is made in the presence of the following:
- characteristic complaints described above;
- during digital rectal examination, the prostate is edematous and painful;
- a general blood test shows an increase in the number of leukocytes and an acceleration of ESR;
- a large number of leukocytes can be detected in the general analysis of urine;
- also confirm the diagnosis of prostate ultrasound data.
With chronic bacterial prostatitis, there are usually no problems during remission.
To confirm chronic bacterial prostatitis, the presence of bacteria and white blood cells in prostate tissues is determined. To do this, make a swab from the prostate secretion, which is then studied under a microscope. In bacterial prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes will be noticed in the swab.
Urine or prostate secretion is also sown on a nutrient medium to determine the growth and susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.
Another method for determining chronic prostatitis is determining the titer 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 due to the late start of treatment, interruption of the course of treatment, irregular medication.
Also, bacterial prostatitis can be complicated by a prostate abscess or the appearance 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 relapses. This can be achieved by adhering to the following principles:
- Bladder overflow should be avoided.
- Dress for the weather so you don't get cold.
- Sex life should be regular, while long abstinence and excessive sexual activity are harmful. Prolonged or interrupted sexual intercourse can also worsen chronic prostatitis.
- In case of casual sex, you need to protect yourself so that you do not become infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
- Refuse to abuse 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, the presence of concomitant diseases.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed for chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Prostate massage is prescribed for quick recovery, as well as to improve the therapeutic effect in chronic prostatitis. This procedure helps clean hard-to-reach areas of the prostate from microorganisms. But it is in these areas that bacteria stagnate and multiply, leading to the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis.