Prostatic abscesses: percutaneous treatment

Three cases of prostatic abscess diagnosed in our service in the past year are reported. The current treatment of this disease entity and the changes observed relative to the pathogenic flora of prostatic abscess in certain groups at risk today are discussed. All three cases underwent percutaneous transperineal debridement of the purulent collection. An 8 Fr silicone catheter was left indwelling in the residual cavity of the abscess to permit lavage with povidone-iodine solution during the first 3 or 4 days post-operatively. At one week, the abscess had completely resolved in all of the cases as evidenced by the ultrasound control. E. coli was isolated in two patients with diabetes and Staph. aureus was isolated in an HIV-positive intravenous drug addict who also had renal abscess from Candida albicans.