[Chronic prostatitis: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations].

Chronic prostatitis, whether of bacterial or non-bacterial origin, is a pathological entity commonly considered difficult to diagnose and to manage. In an attempt to provide a better understanding of the usefulness of Stamey-Meares fractional culture as a diagnostic test, the findings obtained with this technique in 34 patients, 5 with bacterial chronic prostatitis (BCP) and 29 with non-bacterial chronic prostatitis (NBCP) were analyzed. The multiresistance found in the antibiogram in 3 cases and the lack of correlation between these findings and the seminoculture, demonstrate that this technique should continue to be considered indispensable. Also, the value that should be appointed to the existence of organisms with non-proven pathogenicity is discussed. Some bases for a rational management are proposed and the various treatment alternatives, including the use of myorelaxants which in this series allowed to achieve resolution of the symptomatology in 59% cases are analyzed.