Chronic Prostatitis

Alternate Names : Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is a low-grade bacterial infection of the prostate gland. It can last a long time and cause recurrent urinary tract infections.

What is going on in the body?

The prostate gland in males makes fluids that are part of the semen. Normally, the contents of the prostate are sterile, that is, free of bacteria and other organisms. The prostate can become infected in acute bacterial prostatitis. If it is not treated completely, some bacteria can remain in the prostate. This causes chronic bacterial prostatitis. The bacteria can be extremely difficult to kill with medications once the acute infection is over. They can infect the urine over and over again. This is what brings on the episodes of symptoms. The chronic disease usually evolves from the acute form. But often there is no history of the acute infection.

What are the causes and risks of the infection?

Bacteria are thought to get into the prostate by way of a backwash into the urethra. So avoiding urinary tract infections should reduce the risk of chronic bacterial prostatitis.