Bacteria in enucleated prostate.

The controversial nature of prostatitis is compounded by questions concerning the incidence and significance of bacteria within the prostate. Criticism of bacteriologic studies of expressed prostatic secretion, ejaculate, needle biopsy, and transurethral chips led us to culture the core of enucleated prostates. Of 65 prostates, 26 (40 per cent) were positive: 15 pathogens (23 per cent) and 11 nonpathogens (17 per cent). This was correlated with preoperative urinary infections, anterior urethral infection, and postoperative infectious complications. Prostatic pathogens were usually found when the urine and anterior urethra were infected.