Objective
To assess the utility of antimicrobial prophylaxis when performing freehand systematic transperineal biopsy.
Patients and Methods
From 1/2012 to 2/2020, freehand transperineal prostate biopsy via angiocatheters or the PrecisionPoint Transperineal Access System was performed on consecutive men with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer or confirmed prostate cancer. Biopsies were performed by a single urologist (developer of the PrecisionPoint system). Clinical data was collected retrospectively. Pre-procedural antibiotics were given to all patients through September 6th, 2016. After this date, antibiotics were omitted from those without risk factors (chronic catherization, concurrent endoscopic procedure, history of sepsis after transrectal (TR) biopsy, history of TR biopsy within the last year, prosthetic joints/heart valves). Patients were assessed one week after biopsy for symptoms, Emergency Department visits, and hospital admissions. Patients who received antimicrobial prophylaxis were compared to those who did not and infectious complications were analyzed. Additionally, oncologic outcomes are reported.
Results
988 biopsies (median PSA 7.7 ng/ml) were included in the analysis on 756 men. 538 biopsies (54.4%) received prophylaxis and 450 (48.6%) did not receive prophylaxis. There was a statistical difference in the median age (67 vs 69 years, p < 0.001), abnormal DRE (13% vs 5%, p < 0.001), and history of mpMRI (15% vs 31%, p < 0.001) between the prophylaxis and no prophylaxis cohorts, respectively. There were no documented complications in those who received antibiotics. Within the no prophylaxis cohort, there were three (0.66%) complications (p = 0.09). Two (0.44%) patients had UTIs and one (0.22%) patient experienced post-procedural urinary retention. No patients required hospital admission or ED visit. Clinically significant cancer was detected in 152 (40.0%) and 64 (39.0%) men on initial biopsy and prior negative biopsy, respectively.
Conclusions
This data suggests that antimicrobial prophylaxis may be safely omitted in selected patients when utilizing the freehand transperineal approach.