The term prostatitis (synonym: prostate infection; ICD-10 N41.-: Inflammatory diseases of the prostate) refers to a series of inflammatory changes in the prostate (male prostate gland). These are also grouped together as “prostatitis syndrome”.
In addition to acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP), the prostatitis syndrome includes chronic prostatitis (CP) or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) (see classification below). CCPS is defined as chronic pelvic pain or discomfort for at least 3 months during the previous 6 months. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is often accompanied by micturition difficulties (bladder voiding dysfunction), sexual dysfunction, and psychosocial impairment.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is defined by persistence of symptoms for more than three months, bacteriuria (excretion of bacteria with urine), and evidence of an inflammatory response.
Frequency peak: The occurrence of prostatitis shows a two-part age peak: this is between 20-40 years of age as well as above the age of 70.
The prevalence (disease frequency) is 2-10% of all men. Approximately 10% of all men with prostatitis have a chronic bacterial form.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) is approximately 3 cases per 1,000 population per year.
Course and prognosis: Prostatitis can be acute or chronic, with or without bacterial involvement. 10.2% of patients with acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) develop chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), and 9.6% develop chronic abacterial prostatitis or chronic pain syndrome. The prognosis of acute prostatitis is very good with timely and adequate antibiotic therapy, and the transition to a possible chronic form of the disease can usually be prevented. The treatment of chronic prostatitis is difficult. 60 percent of those affected become symptom-free within six months, 20 percent suffer permanently from chronic prostatitis (CP) and a further 20 percent complain of a relapse (recurrence of the disease) at intervals.
Note: Before antibiotic therapy, it should be ensured that a bacterial infection is actually present. In the literature, bacterial infection is identified as the cause of prostatitis-like symptoms in only 5% to 10% of cases.
