[Bacterial content of the enucleated prostate gland]

To determine the prevalence of prostatic colonization or infection in patients undergoing prostatic surgery for obstructive symptoms due to benign hyperplasia of the prostate (BPH), to identify and quantitate the microorganisms isolated in quantitative bacterial tissue cultures, and to determine the influence of open surgery vs endoscopy on the microbiological findings.

A prospective study was conducted on 175 patients undergoing surgery for BPH. All patients were entered into a study protocol that included quantitative bacterial cultures of prostatic tissue. Data of previously defined variables were entered into a data base for subsequent analysis comprised of redefinition of the variables and descriptive and analytical studies.

44 of the 175 patients (25.1%) had a positive bacterial culture of prostatic tissue. Histological lesions indicating prostatitis associated with BPH were found in 68 of the 175 patients (38.9%), regardless of the presence or absence of bacteria. Of these 68 patients with histologically demonstrated prostatic inflammation, only 19 (27.9%) had a positive prostatic tissue culture. The incidence of granulomatous prostatitis was 1.1%.

The presence of bacteria was demonstrated in prostates of a significant number of patients (25.1%) undergoing prostatectomy for BPH. The microorganisms most frequently isolated in the quantitative bacterial cultures were, by order of frequency, coagulase negative Staphylococci, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, which were present in concentrations of at least 10(4) CFU/Gm in prostatic tissue of 79.6% of the cases. No differences were found between the type of procedure the patient underwent and the presence or absence of prostatic infection.