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Prostatitis - acute - Management
When should I refer a man with acute prostatitis?
- Admit when there is:
- Acute urinary retention — suprapubic catheterization is required (inserting a urethral catheter may spread the infection through the blood).
- Deteriorating symptoms despite appropriate antibiotic treatment.
- Refer urgently if the man has:
- An inadequate response to appropriate antibiotic treatment — complications such as prostatic abscess should be assessed for, and this may require transrectal ultrasound examination or computed tomography (CT) scan of the prostate.
- Pre-existing urological conditions (such as benign prostatic hypertrophy or an indwelling catheter) — specialist urological management may be required.
- Consider urgent referral for any man who is immunocompromised or has diabetes.
- Refer all men when they have recovered. Investigation of the urinary tract is required to exclude structural abnormality.
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