Septic shock secondary to acute bacterial prostatitis in an HIV-positive male: a novel presentation.

Acute bacterial prostatitis, an acute infection of the prostate gland, results in lower abdominal pain, flank pain, urinary symptoms and the potential for systemic symptoms like fever and shock. With a high mortality rate if left untreated, acute bacterial prostatitis becomes a true urological emergency, which if allowed to progress, may result in bacteremia, severe sepsis/septic shock and death. Diagnosis is mainly clinical with a detailed history and physical and laboratory evaluation to include a urinalysis.