def _get_host(self, request, prefix_path = None):
    """
    Retrieves the host for the current request prepended
    with the given prefix path.

    :type request: Request
    :param request: The request to be used.
    :type prefix_path: String
    :param prefix_path: The prefix path to be prepended to the
    host value.
    :rtype: String
    :return: The current host (name) for the given request.
    """

    # retrieves the host value from the request headers
    host = request.request.get_header("Host")

    # in case there is a prefix path defined
    if prefix_path:
        # prepends the prefix path to the host
        host = prefix_path + host

    # returns the host
    return host