Acute prostatitis

Urinary tract infection is the greatest risk for developing acute prostatitis. Prophylactic antibiotics in patients with chronic urinary stasis (residual urine) or a foreign body in the urinary tract (stone) theoretically may prevent prostatitis. However, there are no good studies to support this claim.

For any patient undergoing a prostate biopsy for any indication, the European Association of Urology guidelines recommend using the transperineal approach (not the transrectal approach) because this is associated with lower infection rates than transrectal biopsy.[12]European Association of Urology. Guidelines on urological infections. 2022 [internet publication]. https://uroweb.org/guidelines/urological-infections/ If transrectal biopsy is to be undertaken then use of a rectal povidone-iodine preparation before transrectal biopsy, in addition to antimicrobial prophylaxis, results in a significantly lower rate of infectious complications.[12]European Association of Urology. Guidelines on urological infections. 2022 [internet publication]. https://uroweb.org/guidelines/urological-infections/