Acute prostatitis refers to a bacterial infection of the male prostate gland, which is located between the bladder and rectum. According to a large-scale study conducted at University of Wisconsin in 1998, the prevalence of acute prostatitis among men was 8 percent. The most common bacteria implicated was E. coli. Symptoms of acute prostatitis include frequent or painful urination, fever and chills, low back or rectal pain, pus or blood in the urine, and painful ejaculation.
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolone category of antibiotics. It is highly effective in treating bacterial prostatitis: a 10- to 14-day course of cipro will usually heal the infection. According to Drugs.com, ciprofloxacin's common side effects include nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, headache and dizziness. However, most men tolerate the drug well and are able to complete the treatment.
Norfloxacin
Norfloxacin is also a member of the fluoroquinolone drug family. It is a newer antibiotic than ciprofloxacin, and therefore there are fewer cases of bacterial resistance to this medicine. The main drawback is that it is more expensive than ciprofloxacin. RxList.com cites the most common side effects of norfloxacin as dizziness, nausea, headache and abdominal cramps.
Sulfa Drugs
Sulfa antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are used to treat bacterial prostatitis. Sulfa drugs are inexpensive compared to the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. However, between 3 to 8 percent of individuals are known to have a sulfa allergy and so could not be treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Doxycycline
According to the New York Times Health Guide, doxycycline, a tetracycline derivative, is also effective at treating bacterial prostatitis, but needs to be taken for four weeks. It is inexpensive, on par with sulfa drugs. Commonly reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite and sensitivity to sunlight.
