Prostatitis
Prostatitis describes inflammation or pain associated with the prostate. A sudden bacterial infection is different from persistent pelvic pain without proven infection and needs a different treatment approach.
Key takeaways
- Fever, chills, painful urination and pelvic or perineal pain suggest acute bacterial prostatitis and need same-day assessment.
- Urine testing, examination, previous infections and urinary retention help distinguish infection from chronic pelvic pain and other causes.
- Antibiotics are for bacterial disease; prolonged or repeated antibiotics are not a default treatment when infection has not been established.
Catalogue antibiotic matches do not establish bacterial prostatitis or show that a particular medicine is suitable.
How do acute and persistent symptoms differ?
Acute infection often begins rapidly with systemic illness and urinary pain. Persistent prostatitis symptoms may include pelvic discomfort, painful ejaculation or fluctuating urinary symptoms without fever; bladder, pelvic-floor and pain factors may contribute.
How is treatment selected?
For bacterial infection, antibiotic selection considers culture results, severity, allergies, interactions and resistance. Levofloxacin is one possible antibiotic, not a universal first choice. Non-bacterial symptoms may need pain, pelvic-floor or urinary management.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for inability to pass urine, high fever, shaking chills, confusion, vomiting, severe pelvic pain or rapidly worsening weakness.