Acute bacterial prostatitis is the least common type of prostatitis and is always caused by bacterial infection.
Prostatitis
Acute bacterial prostatitis is the least common type of prostatitis and is always caused by bacterial infection. It is usually easy to diagnose because of the typical symptoms and signs. It is a severe urinary tract infection often associated with fevers and chills, requiring a visit to a doctor or hospital. Acute bacterial prostatitis can affect any age group, but most commonly occurs in older and middle-aged men. Another type that is caused by bacterial infection is chronic bacterial prostatitis, which is characterized by recurrent urinary tract infections in men. When symptoms do appear, they are generally less severe than acute bacterial prostatitis and rarely cause fevers, but often recur. This condition can also affect any age group but is most common in young and middle-aged men.
Nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia, now properly referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, are the most common types of prostatitis. The exact cause of these non-bacterial prostatitis conditions is not known, but they may be due to persistent infection, inflammation and/or pelvic muscle spasm. Inflammation in the prostate can also occur without symptoms.