Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, 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.
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;
- Klebsiella;
- enterobacter;
- section.
Most of these microorganisms are part of the normal microflora of the body. If the body's protective properties are reduced, then these bacteria can cause prostatitis.
Other microorganisms that cause bacterial prostatitis include fungi, chlamydia, trichomonads, and ureaplasmas.
Factors contributing 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:
- systemic untimely emptying of the bladder;
- bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking);
- concomitant diseases of the urinary system (eg pyelonephritis);
- sedentary way of life.
Symptoms of bacterial prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- general intoxication (weakness, chills, fever);
- groin and perineum pain;
- 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, then its 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:
- typical complaints described above;
- during digital rectal examination the prostate gland is swollen and painful;
- in the general blood test there is an increase in the number of leukocytes and acceleration of ESR;
- in the general analysis of urine a large number of leukocytes can be found;
- also confirm the diagnostic data from prostate ultrasound.
In chronic bacterial prostatitis there are usually no complaints in 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 the secretion of the prostate gland, which is then examined under a microscope. In bacterial prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes will be observed in the smear.
Urine or prostate secretion is also inoculated on a nutrient medium to determine the growth and susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.
Another method for determining chronic prostatitis is to determine 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 facilitated by the late start of treatment, interruption of treatment, irregular medication.
Bacterial prostatitis can also 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 exacerbation of the disease or to reduce the number of relapses. This can be achieved by following the following principles:
- Overflow of the bladder should be avoided.
- Dress according to the weather so that you don't get cold.
- Sex life should be regular, while long abstinence and excessive sexual activity are harmful. Prolonged or interrupted intercourse can also worsen chronic prostatitis.
- In case of casual sexual intercourse, it is necessary to protect yourself from contracting 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 antibiotics is 2-8 weeks, depending on the clinical picture of the disease, the presence of concomitant diseases.
In chronic bacterial prostatitis, anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.
To quickly recover, as well as to enhance the therapeutic effect of chronic prostatitis, prostate massage is prescribed. This procedure helps to clean the hard-to-reach places of the prostate from microorganisms. But it is in these areas that bacteria stagnate and multiply, leading to the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis.