McCormick DW, Kaplan J, Whigham C, Coburn M, Greenberg SB. The Changing Epidemiology and Microbiology of Patients With Prostate Abscess: Increase in Staphylococcal Infection.
Open Forum Infect Dis 2021;
8:ofab503. [PMID:
34805434 PMCID:
PMC8600174 DOI:
10.1093/ofid/ofab503]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Prostatic abscesses are rare and have been most commonly associated with gram-negative bacteria; however, Staphylococcus aureus has emerged as a leading cause, particularly in persons who are immunocompromised.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients discharged from Ben Taub Hospital with a diagnosis of prostatic abscess during January 2011-January 2019. Demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and radiographic data were abstracted from the patients' charts and analyzed for comorbidities, causative organisms, clinical course, and outcomes.
Results
We identified 32 patients with a prostatic abscess during the study period. S. aureus was the most common causative organism (18/32, 56%). Most patients (24/32, 75%) were admitted to a general medicine service, and the median length of stay was 9 days. Twenty-one patients (66%) were treated with a combination of surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy; 11 (34%) were treated with antibiotics alone. All patients treated with antibiotics alone had full clinical recovery. Two patients (6.3%) died, both of whom had septic shock secondary to disseminated S. aureus infection.
Conclusions
Prostatic abscesses are rare and can be difficult to diagnose, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. S. aureus is a frequent causative organism especially in persons with diabetes mellitus or other immunocompromising conditions. Hematogenous spread of S. aureus infection to the prostate appears common. Prostatic abscesses can serve as the nidus of disseminated S. aureus infection.
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