Chronic bacterial prostatitis

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the prostate gland and a form of prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate. It is distinguished from acute bacterial prostatitis and from chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It is a relatively rare condition that usually shows up as an intermittent urinary-tract-infection picture, defined as recurrent urinary tract infections in men that originate from a chronic infection in the prostate. Symptoms may be absent until the bladder is also infected. It is thought to arise from ascending urethral infection and reflux into the prostatic ducts. Diagnosis relies on culturing urine and prostatic fluid. Prolonged antibiotic courses, generally four to six weeks, are first-line therapy, but relapse is common, and alpha blockers or low-dose suppressive antibiotics may help persistent cases.