Is prostatitis the same thing as a prostate infection?

Yes: Prostatitis refers to infection and/or inflammation of the prostate. Prostatitis may be due to infection by various types of organisms or it may be due to non-infectious causes.

Yes and no: Some prostatitis is caused by bacteria that cause other urinary tract infections, such as E. coli and other intestinal bacteria. But most cases are non-infectious. Antibiotics are usually given in case infection is present, but often make no difference. Your location indicates you are near some of the world's top experts in prostatitis and UTI in males, Stanford U. Dept of Urology. Try them!