Prostatitis: diagnosis and treatment in primary care

Prostatitis refers to the inflammation and/or infection of the prostate gland, which occurs in several forms or syndromes and presents with varied etiologies, clinical features, and sequelae. The four common forms of prostatitis are acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, nonbacterial prostatitis, and prostatodynia. Differential diagnosis of prostatitis is based on history, physical exam findings, and, frequently, analysis of expressed prostatic secretions. Complaints may vary, but pain or discomfort in the rectal or perineal area is usually present. Clinicians in primary care settings should be knowledgeable about the types of prostatitis, etiology, and pathogenesis; the methods of diagnosis; and treatment/education issues.