How do doctors differentiate between non-bacterial and bacterial prostatitis?
In theory, laboratory tests can be used to differentiate between the two varieties. However, urine tests are usually unremarkable even though bacteria may be present, just not detectable. Furthermore, although microscopic examination of expressed prostatic secretions (abbreviated EPS) can differentiate between the various types of prostatitis, most urologists (95%) dont bother to perform this simple examination. Instead they diagnose and treat prostatitis based on the presenting symptoms.
