Older men often suffer from irritation and swelling of the prostate gland; this condition is known as prostatitis. Prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection; the bacteria enter the prostate through the urethra via the backward flow of infected urine into the prostate ducts. The prostate gland can become infected by any type of bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTI).
Bacterial prostatitis accounts for up to 10 percent of all cases of prostatitis. This form of prostatitis is more clearly understood than the other forms of prostatitis. Other forms of prostatitis can be caused by neuromuscular problems in the area of the prostate and from an autoimmune disorder of the prostate. Other causes of prostatitis could be from traumatic injury, pressure exerted on the prostate due to obesity and from diseased tissue, and psychological stress. These forms of prostatitis are not as clearly understood as the bacterial form of prostatitis.
Causes of bacterial prostatitis
Prostatitis can also be caused by the coliform bacteria that travel from the intestinal tract. A male can be at risk for bacterial prostatitis if he engages in rectal intercourse has had a urinary catheter or other medical device inserted into the urethra and bladder. He may also be at risk if his urinary tract has a structural abnormality, or has had a urinary tract infection recently. Any man with an enlarged prostate may be at risk for prostatitis.
There are several possible causes of prostatitis. The organisms that may cause bacterial prostatitis are Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus.
Prostatitis can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomonas, Syphilis and other STDs.
Symptoms of bacterial prostatitis
Prostatitis can occur with an infection in and around the testicles, especially if the infection originated from an STD. Symptoms of prostatitis may include:
You may have tenderness in the area of your prostate
Your doctor will ask you to give a urine sample for a culture and sensitivity. Your doctor will also order a routine urinalysis. If there is a discharge coming from the prostate, the doctor may choose to do a culture and sensitivity test on it to look for increased bacteria and white blood cells.
Your doctor will send you to the lab or a nurse can take a blood sample from you in the office for a complete blood count (CBC) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Most cases of prostatitis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, and lifestyle changes. The lifestyle changes would include making changes in your diet and activity. Antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole and others may be prescribed to treat bacterial prostatitis. If prostatitis is caused by an STD an antibiotic such as ceftriaxone and doxycycline may be given. In severe cases of prostatitis caused by an STD infection, then you may need to be hospitalized for medications to be given piggy back with IV fluids.
Conclusion
Sometimes, men with prostatitis may have difficulty emptying the bladder. If you have urgency and cannot void, your doctor may suggest that you have a suprapubic (inserted in the bladder through the pubic region and not the penis) catheter until your infection is under control. If you have pain from prostatitis, you may find relief by sitting in a warm bath or sitz bath. Sitting in a warm bathtub will help relieve the backache associated with prostate pain.
You may need to watch your diet quite closely; citrus juices, spicy foods and alcohol may make your symptoms worse. It’s important to drink plenty of water to flush out the kidneys and bladder; this will decrease the chance of bacteria flowing back into the prostate gland through the ducts in that area.
