Effectiveness of fosfomycin tromethamine prophylaxis in preventing infection following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy: Results from a large Canadian cohort

Abstract

Objectives: Rates of infection following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB) are increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fosfomycin tromethamine (FMT) prophylaxis in preventing post-TRUSPB infectious complications.

Methods: This nested case-control study included patients undergoing TRUSPB in a Canadian tertiary-care hospital who developed post-TRUSPB bacteraemia or urinary tract infection. Four prophylaxis periods were defined: (i) ciprofloxacin, low-resistance period (CIPRO-LOW), 2002-2009; (ii) ciprofloxacin, high-resistance period (CIPRO-HIGH), 2010-October 2013; (iii) oral FMT, one dose (FOSFO1), December 2013-September 2015; and (iv) oral FMT, two doses (FOSFO2), November 2015-June 2016. Incidence rates of the infection were calculated.

Results: TRUSPB (n=9391) resulted in 138 cases of urinary sepsis (58% with bacteraemia). The incidence rates were 1.8% (CIPRO-HIGH), 3.5% (FOSFO1; P=0.004 vs. CIPRO-HIGH) and 2.7% (FOSFO2; P=0.19 vs. CIPRO-HIGH). Although Escherichia coli remained the predominant pathogen with fosfomycin-based regimens, the proportion of infections caused by Klebsiella spp. was higher (20/66; 30.3%) than with ciprofloxacin-based regimens (2/77; 2.6%; P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Independent risk factors for infection were the prophylactic regimen administered, presence of urological co-morbidities and diabetes. FMT was therefore not an effective alternative to ciprofloxacin for preventing post-TRUSPB urinary sepsis. These results highlight the need for novel antibacterial prophylaxis approaches.

Keywords: Bacteraemia; Ciprofloxacin; Fosfomycin; Prostate biopsy; TRUSPB; Urinary tract infection.