What Causes a Prostate Infection?

A prostate infection is also called prostatitis. This condition only occurs in men, because females do not have a prostate gland. The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder and produces semen. Although usually the size of a walnut, the prostate gland can become inflamed due to infection.

Acute Bacterial Prostatitis

• Bacteria causes a prostate infection. It can spread from an infection in the intestines, bladder or urethra. Bacteria is responsible for 5 percent of all prostate infections.

Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis

• If some of the bacteria remains after an acute bacterial infection, this can lead to a chronic infection. Other causes of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis are urinary tract injury, catheters or an infection that has spread to the prostate from another location in the body.

Nonbacterial Prostatitis

• It is unknown what causes the other 95 percent of prostate infections other than bacteria.

Increased Risk

• Those who have experienced a bladder infection recently, have an enlarged prostate, have an abnormal urinary tract, have recently used a catheter or partake in rectal intercourse are at an increased risk of developing prostatitis.

Prevention

• Men who have a history of prostate infections should refrain from activities such as bike riding, horseback riding and jogging. These activities can aggravate the prostate gland.