title: A prospective interventional study in chronic prostatitis with emphasis to clinical features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic bacterial prostatitis displays a variety of symptoms (mainly local pain exhibiting vari­ability in origin and intensity). These symptoms often persist despite bacterial eradication. The purpose of this article is to exam the role of phytotherapeutic agents as complementary treatment in patients with bacterial prostatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material consisted of individuals with reported pelvic discomfort and genital pain with or without lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction visiting our department from March 2009 to March 2011. Patients underwent Stamey-Meares test (several cases underwent the two glass test). Depending on history and specific symptoms urethral smear and semen cultures were additionally obtained from several patients. All patients were randomized into two groups. Subjects in the first group (72 patients) received appropriate antibiotic (according to the sensitivity test) for 15 days, while subjects in the second group (72 patients) received phytotherapeutic agents for 30 days, additionally the conventional 15 days antibiotic treatment. The response was tested using laboratory and clinical criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding bacterial and symptom persistence rate, however, symptoms burden was lower in patients receiving combinational treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phytotherapeutic agents may improve pain and prostatitis related difficulty in urination. Further randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to substantiate safer conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tzaneio Hospital, Pireas, Greece. stamatiouk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Konstantinos Nikolaos
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Stamatiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tzaneio Hospital, Pireas,Greece.
authors.forename: Hippocrates
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moschouris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053448:Prostatism / Q000209:etiology; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D000068218:Prunus africana; D028024:Serenoa; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; C040972:saw palmetto extract