Preoperative urine culture is unnecessary in asymptomatic men prior to prostate needle biopsy

Clinical Value of a Routine Urine Culture Prior to Transrectal Prostate Biopsy

Background

Infectious complications after a transrectal prostate biopsy may be severe. In Sweden, a routine culture prior to all prostate biopsies was introduced to enable targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis and reduce postbiopsy infections.

Objective

To investigate whether a clinical routine with a urine culture prior to a prostate biopsy and targeted prophylactic antibiotic therapy reduces postbiopsy infections.

Design setting and participants

In 2015, a site-specific antimicrobial stewardship programme with a urine culture prior to a prostate biopsy was initiated in Region Kronoberg. To evaluate this routine, we designed a population-based register study including all men who had an outpatient prostate biopsy in 2015-2019 and a control period including all men who had a biopsy in 2010-2014, when a urinary culture was obtained only on clinical suspicion.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

The primary outcome was infectious complications within 10 d and the secondary outcome was a change in antibiotic prophylactic treatment. An infectious complication was defined as prescription of antibiotics for urinary tract infections or admission to hospital for urinary tract infections or sepsis after a biopsy.

Results and limitations

The urine culture period included 2971 prostate biopsy procedures, of which 2684 (90%) were preceded by a urine culture. The control period included 2818 procedures, of which 135 (4.8%) were preceded by a urine culture. Infectious complications were slightly more common during the urine culture period (5.0%) than during the control period (4.3%, p = 0.17), as was inpatient care for infections (3.5% vs 2.2%, p = 0.002). The routine identified 5.4% men with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Despite targeted antibiotic treatment (1.5% received a nonfluoroquinolone treatment), the rate of infectious complications (6.3%) was similar to that in the control period.

Conclusions

Prebiopsy urine culture did not lead to fewer postbiopsy infections. Other measures are needed to reduce infectious complications after a prostate biopsy.

Patient summary

In this report, we evaluated a routine with urine culture prior to a transrectal prostate biopsy and found that it did not lead to fewer infectious complications.

Positive urine culture prior to transrectal prostate biopsy was not associated with infectious complications development

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its histological diagnosis is based on prostate biopsy. The transrectal procedure is one of the most common procedures performed by urologists. Although it is considered safe, post-biopsy infectious complications are frequently observed in practice. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of urine culture before the transrectal biopsy. Secondly, we assessed potential risk factors for infectious complications following TR-PB.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent urine culture tests before transrectal prostate biopsy between January 2019 and July 2020. The inclusion criteria for the study were all indications for prostate biopsy (PSA>4ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination). Baseline characteristics and the incidence of post-biopsy urinary tract infection were compared between patients showing positive pre-biopsy culture results and those showing negative findings. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for infectious complications following TR-PB.

RESULTS

Out of 163 patients included in our study, 19 patients (11.65%) had positive urine culture results before the biopsy. Age (P=0.068); history of hospitalization (P>0.999), history previous of quinolone use (P=0.75), history of UTI (P=0.64); median PSA level at diagnosis (P=0.267); prostate volume (P=0.78); post-void residual volume (P=0.374); percentage of patients testing positive for cancer on biopsy (P=0.81); and percentages of patients with a history of biopsy (P=0.889), diabetes mellitus (P=0.524), hypertension (P=0.714) and immunosuppressive medication use (P>0.999) were similar between the two groups. One patient in the positive urine culture group had post-biopsy prostatitis. However, 3.24% (five patients) of the negative urine culture group had the disease (P=0.789) (four patients with prostatitis and one with epididymitis). Among them, four patients were diagnosed by urine culture at the time of post-biopsy urinary tract infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that history of hospitalization and history of previous quinolone use were risk factors for infection after transrectal prostate biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that systematically performing urine cultures before transrectal prostate biopsy does not reduce the rate of infectious complications after biopsy. Positive pre-biopsy cultures were not associated with the development of post-biopsy infectious complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Adults

Purpose of review

Our goal was to summarize recent evidence regarding recurrent urinary tract infections and asymptomatic bacteriuria in different adult populations.

Recent findings

Several research groups are focused on the description of resident bacterial flora in the bladder and urinary dysbiosis in the microbiome era. Even the definitions might change in light of these discoveries. However, the role of urinary microbiome and bacterial interference has still to be determined.

Summary

Systematic treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is not recommended and even classic indications such as asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women are controversial. In fact, its treatment is associated with a higher probability of symptomatic UTI and a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Improving the diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria and optimizing the management of recurrent urinary tract infections, especially through non-antibiotics measures, are needed in order to minimise antimicrobial resistance.

Positive Culture Prior to Transperineal Prostate Biopsy Was Not Associated with Post-Biopsy Febrile Urinary Tract Infection Development

Purpose

To investigate the association between urine culture before transperineal prostate biopsy and post-biopsy febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI).

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 307 patients who underwent urine culture before transperineal prostate biopsy between April 2017 and September 2020. Patients with indwelling urinary catheters (n=7) were excluded. Urine culture was performed 1–3 days before the biopsy, and all patients received prophylactic cefazolin regardless of culture results. A urine culture was defined as positive if cell density was more than 1×10⁵ colony-forming units per mL. Baseline characteristics and the incidence of post-biopsy fUTI were compared between patients showing positive pre-biopsy culture results and those showing negative findings.

Results

Out of 300, seven patients (2.3%) had positive urine culture results before the biopsy. Age (p=0.077); prostate-specific antigen at diagnosis (p=0.267); prostate volume (p=0.78); number of biopsy cores (p=0.277); percentage of patients testing positive for cancer on biopsy (p=0.71); and percentages of patients with a history of biopsy (p>0.999), diabetes mellitus (p=0.604), and immunosuppressive medication use (p>0.999) were similar between the two groups. No patient in the positive urine culture group had post-biopsy fUTI. However, 1.7% (five patients) of the negative urine culture group had the disease (p>0.999) (four patients with prostatitis and one with pyelonephritis). Among them, two patients were diagnosed by urine culture at the time of post-biopsy fUTI.

Conclusion

In asymptomatic patients, positive pre-biopsy cultures were not associated with the development of post-biopsy fUTI.

[Short recommendations from the CIAFU: Interest of the urine bacterial culture performed before endo-rectal prostate biopsy]

Prostate biopsy is sometimes complicated by infection which can lead to death. The risk factors remain controversial, notably the urine bacterial culture carried out before a prostate biopsy. The increase in resistance induces an increase in the number of complications and the need to define new antibiotic prophylaxis strategies. The urine bacterial culture remains widely discussed in cases with post-prostate biopsy infections and urologists or experts await clear recommendations on this subject. The Infectiology Committee of the French Association of Urology has therefore set up a literature analysis work in order to reach a consensus within the committee.

METHOD

A literature search was performed on Pubmed and Medline. We selected randomized studies or meta-analyzes using the keywords "prostate biopsy" and "infection" or "infectious complications". All abstracts and articles have been analyzed. The summary of the analysis was reviewed by all the members of the committee proposing the most consensual recommendation possible.

RESULTS

The literature on the subject remains poor, but no evidence of a link between prebiopsy bacteriuria and post-biopsy infection has been demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Apart from a clinical situation which could evoke a male urinary tract infection, and moreover having to prefer the postponement of biopsies, it is not recommended to perform a routine urine culture before endo-rectal prostate biopsies (expert opinion).

Targeting Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Antimicrobial Stewardship: the Role of the Microbiology Laboratory

This minireview focuses on the microbiologic evaluation of patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria, as well as indications for antibiotic treatment. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as two consecutive voided specimens (preferably within 2 weeks) with the same bacterial species, isolated in quantitative counts of ≥10⁵ CFU/ml in women, including pregnant women; a single voided urine specimen with one bacterial species isolated in a quantitative count ≥10⁵ CFU/ml in men; and a single catheterized urine specimen with one or more bacterial species isolated in a quantitative count of ≥10⁵ CFU/ml in either women or men (or ≥10² CFU/ml of a single bacterial species from a single catheterized urine specimen). Any urine specimen with ≥10⁴ CFU/ml group B Streptococcus is significant for asymptomatic bacteriuria in a pregnant woman. Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurs, irrespective of pyuria, in the absence of signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection. The two groups with the best evidence of adverse outcomes in the setting of untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria include pregnant women and patients who undergo urologic procedures with risk of mucosal injury. Screening and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is not recommended in the following patient populations: pediatric patients, healthy nonpregnant women, older patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting, diabetic patients, patients with an indwelling urethral catheter, patients with impaired voiding following spinal cord injury, patients undergoing nonurologic surgeries, and nonrenal solid-organ transplant recipients. Renal transplant recipients beyond 1 month posttransplant should not undergo screening and treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria. There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening of renal transplant recipients within 1 month, patients with high-risk neutropenia, or patients with indwelling catheters at the time of catheter removal. Unwarranted antibiotics place patients at increased risk of adverse effects (including Clostridioides difficile diarrhea) and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Methods to reduce unnecessary screening for and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria aid in antibiotic stewardship.

Update on techniques to prevent infections associated with prostate needle biopsy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Postbiopsy infections (PBIs) are among the most common complications associated with transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB). This article discusses the pathogenesis of TRUSPB-associated infectious complications and reviews the most recent findings on techniques to prevent PBIs.

RECENT FINDINGS

Risk stratification is a powerful tool for identifying TRUSPB candidates whom warrant additional preventive measures. Bowel preparation with povidone-iodine-based enemas and needle disinfection with formalin solution are simple and attractive strategies, but their effectiveness needs to be thoroughly assessed. Antibiotic prophylaxis represents the mainstay for the prevention of PBIs: the prophylactic regimen must respect the principles of antimicrobial stewardship, and local antibiotic resistance patterns among uropathogens should always be considered. Augmented and targeted antibiotic prophylaxes are powerful options, but their role in current clinical practice has yet to be clarified. The transperineal approach has shown a near-zero rate of PBIs, and should therefore be considered for the highest-risk patients.

SUMMARY

Several procedures have been introduced to prevent TRUSPB-related infectious complication, but their utility and applicability in the clinical practice has yet to be elucidated. More robust evidence based on randomized control trials is needed to establish the efficacy of these tools in improving patient outcomes.