title: Diagnosis and treatment of prostatic abscess.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Present and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and treatment of the prostatic abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have retrospectively studied the medical records of 9 patients diagnosed and treated for prostatic abscess, between March 1998 and December 2000, assessing age, context, associated diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods. We have compared the data found with those described in literature, based on Medline data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 52.6 years. Three patients had previous diabetes mellitus diagnosis, and one was infected by HIV virus. Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate confirmed the diagnosis of prostatic abscess in all 7 cases in which it was performed. All cases received antibiotic treatment, and 77.8% needed concomitant surgical treatment. Two cases of microabscess were treated only with antibiotics. Four patients were submitted to perineal catheter drainage, 2 were submitted to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and one patient required both procedures. Mean hospitalization time was 11.2 days, and most frequent bacterial agent was S. aureus. All patients were discharged from the hospital, and there was no death in this series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prostatic abscess should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage (perineal puncture or TURP). Microabscess may heal without surgery.
authors.affiliation: Section of Urology, São Rafael Hospital, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. paulourologia@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Juarez A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Helder C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: José E Pereira
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Antônio F J
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Vinhaes