Introduction: Modification of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB) based on pre-procedure rectal culture results is effective for prevention of infection from fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli strains. This has several implications for service delivery and cost. Our aim was to audit sepsis rates after introduction of ESBL screening and to identify risk factors for FQ resistance in ESBL strains and factors for sepsis risk.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study from 2013 to 2016. TRUSPB patients underwent pre-procedure rectal swabs. ESBL-positive patients received amikacin in addition to ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. Patients filled a formal risk assessment questionnaire prior to biopsy.
Results: Sepsis rate after introduction of targeted prophylaxis reduced from 3.1% (2009-2012) to 1.4% (2013-2016). Of 38 ESBL patients, n = 5 (13%) developed severe post-TRUSPB sepsis. Among the FQ-resistant ESBL producers, the sepsis rate was 24%. Predictive factor for FQ resistance in ESBL producers included-antibiotic use in the last 3 months (OR 15). The logistic regression analysis did not identify any significant factor for post-TRUSPB sepsis in ESBL-positive patients once they had received additional prophylaxis.
Conclusion: In the face of rising TRUSPB sepsis and higher sepsis rates with ESBL carriers despite additional prophylaxis, introduction of a targeted antibiotic prophylaxis prior to TRUSPB sepsis prostate biopsies based on rectal swabs or urine cultures may reduce sepsis rates or clinicians may find themselves leaning towards increasingly performing transperineal biopsies with lower sepsis rates supporting the 'trexit' initiative.
Keywords: Antibiotics; Infection; Prophylaxis; Prostate biopsy; Resistance.