[Morbidity of and tolerance to ultrasonography-guided transrectal biopsy of the prostate]

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate the infectious complications of the ultrasound-guided prostate transrectal biopsy using two different antibiotic prophylactic regimes. Also, patient tolerance to ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsy is assessed.

Methods: Prospective study in 100 patients randomized to antibiotic prophylaxis with Pefloxacin (800 mg as single dose) versus Ciprofloxacin (250 mg/8 h/72 h). Tolerance data collection was done through completion of a questionnaire immediately after biopsy.

Results: Out of the 92 patients eligible for the study, 44 (48%) were assigned to Pefloxacin and 28 (52%) to Ciprofloxacin. In-house validation indicated both groups were matched. 90% patients showed good tolerance to the ultrasound technique and 81.5% patients to the transrectal biopsy. 31.5% patients presented no post-biopsy events; among the remaining only one patient (1%) required medical care and hospitalization. No patient had infectious complications.

Conclusions: Prostate transrectal ultrasound and transrectal prostate biopsy was an approach well tolerated by most (81.5%) patients studied. Percentage of major complications was very small (1%), while post-biopsy events (haematuria, rectorrhage, etc) which do not require medical care should be considered not as complications but as effects intrinsic to the approach itself. Antibiotic prophylaxis whether with Pefloxacin or Ciprofloxacine was highly effective, although Pefloxacin is preferred due to its single dose administration and lower cost.