Morbidity of Prostate Biopsy After Simplified Versus Complex Preparation Protocols: Assessment of Risk Factors

Objective: To determine whether prostate biopsy complications were affected by 2 varying prebiospy protocols implemented at our institution. Although transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy is considered generally safe, it is associated with significant complications.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a total of 1438 TRUS-guided prostate biopsies between January 2001 and June 2008. In group A, 931 men had only one dose of a quinolone antibiotic immediately before the procedure, and no enema was performed. In group B, 507 men who underwent a prebiopsy enema and were given oral antibiotics starting the day before the procedure for 3 days. We analyzed demographics and biopsy complications between the 2 groups.

Results: The overall complication rates were categorized as infection (2.2%), urine retention (0.8%), hematuria (4.4%), rectal bleeding (1.5%), sepsis (0.2%). There was no significant statistical difference in the incidence of infection or sepsis between the 2 groups (2.7% vs 1.4%, P = .157 and 0.1% vs 0.4%, P = .285 respectively, for group A vs B). Both hematuria and hematospermia were more common in group B (2.5% vs 7.9%, P < .001 and 0.2% vs 2%, P < .001 respectively, for group A vs B). Prostate size was a significant risk for both hematuria (odds ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-2.44, P = .003) and acute urinary retention (odds ratio = 4.45, 95% confidence interval = 2.01-9.84, P < .001).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a single antibiotic dose before prostate biopsy may be sufficient. In addition, use of prebiopsy enemas is unnecessary to decrease overall complication rates.