Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a new consensus guideline

The guideline

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) are common, debilitating conditions, with 35–50% of men reported to be affected by symptoms at some time in their life (1,2).

In 2013, we commissioned some qualitative research to find out more about the experiences of men with symptoms of prostatitis and BPH. The research highlighted the need to improve how prostatitis is managed.

So, in 2014, we put together a Prostatitis Expert Reference Group (PERG) UK to develop a consensus guideline to improve the diagnosis and management of men with CBP and CP/CPPS. Due to the limited number of published RCTs, the PERG concluded that the guideline would benefit from a supporting web-based Delphi panel.

Main objectives

  • provide guidance to healthcare professionals treating patients with CBP and CP/CPPS, both in primary and secondary care settings
  • improve non-specialists’ awareness and recognition of CBP and CP/CPPS
  • promote the efficient referral of care between non-specialists and specialists and the involvement of the MDT
  • facilitate the improvement of patient awareness and recognition of CBP and CP/CPPS.

Summary

Listen to Dr Jon Rees summarise the main points of the guideline:

Endorsements

Guideline documents

Download the quick reference guide of the guideline, which contains priorities for implementation and a treatment algorithm.

Guideline published in BJUI

Our guideline was published in the peer-reviewed journal BJU International in March 2015.

Read the open-access article

Dissemination of the guideline

March 2015 - open-access peer-reviewed publication in BJUI (accepted version before final proofs)

January - March 2015 - Part 1 (on pages 23-25) and Part 2 (on pages 23-25) articles in British Journal of Family Medicine.

February 2015 – Quick Reference Guide on the BJUI website

January 2015 - article in Trends in Urology & Men’s Health

December 2014 – article in Guidelines in Practice

November 2014 – Pulse magazine ‘Guideline of the Month’

October 2014 – Pulse Clinical Casebook: prostate problems

September 2014 – article on GP online

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this guideline please contact [email protected].

Page last updated: April 2015

e-learning module

You can also access our e-learning module on managing prostatitis in primary care, developed in association with BMJ Learning.

Register for the free module

References

1. Krieger JN, Lee SW, Jeon J et al. Epidemiology of prostatitis. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2008; 31 Suppl 1: S85-90.

2. Pavone-Macaluso M. Chronic Prostatitis Syndrome: A Common, but Poorly Understood Condition. Part I. EAU-EBU Update Series 2007; 5: 1–15.