Prostate abscesses are focal purulent collections that develop as complications of acute bacterial prostatitis.
The usual infecting organisms are aerobic gram-negative bacilli or, less frequently, Staphylococcus aureus.
Symptoms of Prostate Abscess
Common symptoms include
Urinary frequency
Dysuria
Urinary retention
Perineal pain
Evidence of acute epididymitis, hematuria, and a purulent urethral discharge are less common. Fever is sometimes present.
Rectal examination may disclose prostate tenderness and fluctuance, but prostate enlargement is often the only abnormality, and sometimes the gland feels normal.
Diagnosis of Prostate Abscess
Prostate ultrasonography and possibly cystoscopy
Abscess is suspected in patients with persistent perineal pain and continued or recurrent urinary tract infections despite antimicrobial therapy. Such patients should undergo prostate ultrasonography and possibly cystoscopy.
Many abscesses, however, are discovered unexpectedly during prostate surgery or endoscopy; bulging of a lateral lobe into the prostatic urethra or rupture during instrumentation reveals the abscess. Although pyuria and bacteriuria are common, urine may be normal. Blood cultures are positive in some patients.
Treatment of Prostate Abscess
Antibiotics
Drainage
