One, No One and One Hundred Thousand: Patterns of chronic prostatic inflammation and infection

Abstract

Chronic prostatic inflammation may be classified into three types that share similar symptoms and are distinguished on the basis of microbiological findings. In the present study, consecutive cases of chronic prostatic inflammation and infection were retrospectively reviewed in order to explore the clinical course and long-term outcomes. The cohort consisted of patients with symptoms of prostatitis who visited the Urology Clinic of the Tzaneion Hospital (Piraeus, Greece) between March 2009 and March 2019. The patients were subjected to the Meares and Stamey '4-glass' test and patients with febrile prostatitis were evaluated with a single mid-stream 'clean' urine sample culture. Bacterial identification was performed using the Vitek 2 Compact system and the sensitivity test with the disc and the Vitek 2 system. A total of 656 patients with prostatitis-like symptoms with 1,783 visits for investigation and follow-up were reviewed and patients were divided into two major groups. Group 1 consisted of 549 cases with a single set of chronic prostatitis (CP)-like symptoms assessed in up to three visits. National Institutes of Health (NIH) category II CP (NIH-II) was most frequently diagnosed in those patients (37,6%). At the follow-up, 125 patients were identified as having a type of CP different from that determined initially. Group 2 (107 cases) had recurring episodes of prostatitis-like symptoms assessed or confirmed over the course of 4-18 visits. Most patients (54.2%) were initially diagnosed with NIH-II followed by disease-free periods and recurrence/reinfection or by shifts to NHI-IIIB. In conclusion, CP remains a poorly understood n medical condition characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations and by transitions between different CP classes during its course.

Chronic prostatitis and related psychological problems. Which came first: The chicken or the egg? A systematic review

“…The duration and severity of pain and discomfort varies among patients. Chronic pain may be accompanied by several voiding disturbances mainly urgency and nocturia sexual dysfunction as well (1). However pelvic pain is the most prominent symptom (as compared with patients with BPH and those with erectile dysfunction (2).…”

Altered small non‑coding RNA expression profiles of extracellular vesicles in the prostatic fluid of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome

“…Among patients with CPPS, some present indications of prostatitis, such as urinary symptoms, others present with only the symptoms of pelvic pain. CP/CPPS is considered as a poorly understood medical condition ( 3 ). Accordingly, the present study was designed to ascertain whether pathological changes in the prostate are involved in patients with CPPS having no obvious indications of prostatitis, by testing EPS.…”