Aetiology of chronic prostatitis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Chronic prostatitis affects a significant number of patients presenting with urogenital symptoms.
• Identifying the causative agent is crucial for effective treatment of chronic prostatitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the infective aetiology of chronic prostatitis in a cohort of patients.
• To identify the prevalence of specific pathogens in patients diagnosed with chronic prostatitis.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 388 patients with chronic prostatitis symptoms and inflammatory findings.
• Analysis of expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) and post-prostate massage urine samples for microbial pathogens.
• Identification of causative agents including bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis.

Main Results:

• Infective aetiology was determined in 276 (71.13%) of the 388 patients.
• Chlamydia trachomatis was the most frequent pathogen (109 patients), followed by Trichomonas vaginalis (52 patients).
• Escherichia coli (26 patients) and enterococci (25 patients) were the most common bacterial causes, with other identified pathogens including Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Mixed infections were also observed.

Conclusions:

• A high proportion of chronic prostatitis cases have an identifiable infectious cause.
• Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis are significant pathogens in chronic prostatitis.
• Targeted antimicrobial therapy based on identified pathogens is essential for managing chronic prostatitis effectively.