Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, a male reproductive organ located between the bladder and the rectum. According to the "Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine," most cases of prostatitis in young males can be attributed to a bacterial disease that is sexually transmitted. Although Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis are the two most common bacterial causes of prostatitis, other bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterobacter can also cause prostatitis.
Ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins, which are related in function to penicillin. It acts by attaching to and destroying the bacterial cell wall. Physicians administer ceftriaxone as a one time intramuscular injection to treat sexually transmitted bacterial infections, usually in combination with another antibiotic, according to MayoClinic.com.
Doxycycline
Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic drug that acts by blocking bacterial growth. According to Drugs.com, it is especially useful for treating prostatitis caused by chlamydia. Physicians prescribe a 10-day course of doxycycline, usually in conjunction with a single dose of ceftriaxone, to treat prostatitis.
Quinolones
Quinolones are a broad spectrum class of antibiotics that act by inhibiting bacterial growth and cell replication. The quinolones include such common antibiotics as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and ofloxacin. Although they are not as effective against sexually transmitted diseases, the quinolones are useful for cases of prostatitis caused by other common organisms such as E. coli and enterococcus. According to MayoClinic.com, a two- to four-week course of oral quinolones is required to treat prostatitis.
Bactrim
Bactrim is a combination antibiotic containing trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. According to Drugs.com, physicians commonly prescribe bactrim to treat urinary tract pathogens. A course of about four weeks of oral bactrim can also be effective for prostatitis. The advantage of using bactrim is that patients do not have to take it in combination with any other antibiotics.
References
- "Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine"; Marc Sabatine; 2004
- MayoClinic.com: Prostatitis
- Drugs.com: Doxycycline
- Drugs.com: Bactrim
