Prostate Abscesses

In men, bacterial prostatitis occurs when the prostate gland becomes inflamed because of the presence of bacteria. Prostate abscesses are a possible, but rare, complication of bacterial prostatitis.

Identification

• A prostate abscess is a small cavity that forms on a man's prostate gland, explains the Mayo Clinic. The cavity becomes infected from the presence of bacteria and fills with pus.

Symptoms

• The most common symptoms of prostate abscesses include frequent, painful or difficult urination, reports the Merck Online Medical Library. Less common symptoms are also possible, such as bloody urine, fever or a foul-smelling discharge from the urethra.

Diagnosis

• During rectal exams, doctors sometimes locate a tender point on the prostate that indicates an abscess. An ultrasound is typically necessary to verify the presence of abscesses.

Treatment

• To treat abscesses, doctors typically prescribe oral or injected antibiotic medications. Surgery to drain the fluid in the abscesses is usually necessary as well, according to the Merck Online Medical Library.

Considerations

• In some cases, men do not realize they have abscesses, and doctors discover the condition when performing surgery on the prostate for a condition like cancer or benign prostatic enlargement.