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Erik Castle, M.D.
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Erik Castle, M.D.
Erik Castle, M.D.
Dr. Erik Castle is a board-certified urologist who joined the Mayo Clinic staff in Arizona in 2007.
Dr. Castle is an associate professor of urology at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and a senior associate consultant in the Department of Urology, where he also is assistant residency coordinator.
He was an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Tulane University in New Orleans from 2004 to 2006 after serving as a clinical instructor/fellow at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for one year.
Dr. Castle's research interests include prostate cancer, bladder cancer and kidney cancer. He is the director of the Desert Mountain Prostate Cancer Research Fund and is the principal investigator of Castle labs housed at the Samuel C. Johnson Medical Research building at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. His basic science research is focused on novel secondary hormonal therapies of prostate cancer as well as genomics of prostate and bladder cancer.
His surgical expertise includes laparoscopic urology, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with nerve sparing, robot-assisted radical cystectomy with neobladder, robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and other robotic urologic oncology procedures. He has performed many of these procedures as demonstrations internationally. He is a member of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, the American Urological Association, the Endourological Society, and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. He is president of the international Society of Urologic Robotic Surgeons. He is also the director of the international laparoscopic nephrectomy courses throughout Mexico on behalf of the American Urologic Association.
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- Prostatitis: Can sexual activity make it worse?
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Question
Recurrent prostate infection: What are the treatment options?
I've been treated for three prostate infections in three years. What are the treatment options for recurrent prostate infection?
Answer
from Erik Castle, M.D.
In most cases, a recurring (chronic) prostate infection is caused by bacteria in the prostate and is treated with antibiotics. A prostate infection may recur because antibiotics aren't able to get deep enough into the prostate tissue to destroy all of the bacteria, or because the antibiotic isn't effective against the type of bacteria that's causing the prostate infection. To treat a prostate infection that doesn't get better with antibiotics or keeps coming back, you may need to:
- Try a different antibiotic.
- Take a longer course of an antibiotic, which may last several weeks. In some cases, a course of antibiotics may last two to three months.
- Use medications to help relieve bothersome symptoms, such as alpha blockers to relieve urinary symptoms and anti-inflammatory medications for pain.
If you're taking antibiotics, it's critical to take them exactly as instructed, even if you feel better. Not taking the full course of antibiotics or missing doses can interfere with the antibiotic's ability to completely kill the bacteria.
If you have recurrent prostate infections, you should see a urologist to make sure your prostate symptoms aren't caused by an underlying condition. A urologist can look for any prostate or urinary system problems that would make you more vulnerable to infection. Examples of conditions that increase your risk of recurrent prostate infections include kidney stones, bladder stones and trouble emptying your bladder all the way because of an enlarged prostate.
If you have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test when you have a prostate infection, your PSA levels may be abnormally high. While high levels of PSA in your blood can be a sign of prostate cancer, a prostate infection can dramatically increase your PSA levels even when you're cancer-free. Prostate infections don't increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Next questionProstatitis: Can sexual activity make it worse?
- Murphy AB, et al. Chronic prostatitis: Management strategies. Drugs. 2009;69:71.
- Gallina A, et al. Prostatitis. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia Pa.: Saunders; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/150051310-7/0/1621/349.html?tocnode=54636174&fromURL=349.html. Accessed July 16, 2009.
- Meyrier A, et al. Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 16, 2009.
- Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 29, 2009.
