Urinary Tract Infection After Transrectal Needle Biopsy of the Prostate

Abstract

After routine cleansing enemas, 80 patients were randomized to undergo irrigation of the rectal vault with either povidone-I or saline. A transrectal prostatic needle biopsy then was performed. Antimicrobials were not used before biopsy and were only ordered ater biopsy if fever developed or a positive urine culture was obtained. Over-all, 41% of the patients had positive urine cultures post biopsy and 44% had febrile episodes. There was no significant difference between the group receiving the povidone-I vs. those receiving saline irrigations.