Treatment of bacterial prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis can be distinguished from nonbacterial prostatitis on the basis of the symptoms, the findings on physical examination and the results of microbiologic testing. Evaluation of fractionated urine specimens, including expressed prostatic secretions, is helpful in making the diagnosis. Bacterial prostatitis may be acute or chronic. Acute prostatitis can be a serious illness requiring inpatient treatment with parenteral antibiotics. Chronic prostatitis is difficult to cure, and prolonged antibiotic therapy is required for eradication of symptoms. The most useful agents for the treatment of prostatitis include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and the fluoroquinolones. Evidence indicates that fluoroquinolones may result in superior symptom control and microbiologic cure.