Re: Marco Borghesi, Hashim Ahmed, Robert Nam, et al. Complications After Systematic, Random, and Image-guided Prostate Biopsy. Eur Urol 2017;71:353-65

Complications following local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsies without antibiotic prophylaxis: An institution’s experience

Objectives:

This study aimed to describe a UK institution’s experience with local anaesthetic (LA) transperineal (TP) prostate biopsies (PB), and to report 30-day complications following LATPPB, including a large cohort that did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis.

Patients and methods:

A prospective database of 313 consecutive patients undergoing LATPPB was maintained, describing patient and disease characteristics, and complications. From September 2019 to January 2020, antibiotic prophylaxis was given before LATPPB ( n=149). Following a change to routine care, from January 2020 to July 2020, prophylactic antibiotics were not given before LATPPB ( n=164). A comparative analysis was performed to determine complication rates following antibiotic prophylaxis discontinuation using electronic hospital and primary care records.

Results:

Patient and disease characteristics were comparable in antibiotic and non-antibiotic cohorts, and representative of PB and prostate cancer cohorts described in the urological literature. The infection-related complication rate was 0.32% across all patients, and 0% for those not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. The overall complication rate was 0.64%, and 0.61% for those not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. There were no severe (Clavien–Dindo 3–5) complications. The unplanned hospital admission rate was 0.64%.

Conclusion:

The complication rate after LATPPB was low, with no infection-related complications in patients who did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis. This provides further evidence supporting the discontinuation of routine prophylactic antibiotics before TPPB. Level of evidence: Level 2b.

A non-randomized prospective study on the diagnostic performance of perineal prostatic biopsy, directed via diffusion nuclear resonance, in patients with suspected prostate cancer and previous negative transrectal prostate biopsy

BACKGROUND

A definition of the best strategy is necessary to optimize the follow-up of patients with previous negative transrectal guided ultrasound biopsy (TRUS-GB) and the persistence of raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA).The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostic rate of targeted transperineal ultrasound guided biopsy (TPUS-GB) with cognitive multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) registration with concurrent systematic biopsy in patients with previous negative systematic TRUS-GB and persistently elevated PSA levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study conducted at the University Infanta Sofia Hospital from April 2016 to November 2017, patients with one previous negative systematic TRUS-GB and persistently high PSA levels were referred for mpMRI prostate scans. All patients underwent systematic TPUS-GB and those patients with suspicious findings on mpMRI scans, Pirads 3 and 4-5, underwent a subsequent cognitive guidance mpMRI-TPUS-GB.

RESULTS

In total, 71 patients were included in this study. Suspicious findings on mpMRI scans prior to TPUS-GB were found in 50 patients (70.4%). 16 patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer (22.5%), of whom 14 (87.5%) had a mpMRI scan with Pirads 3 or Pirads 4-5. Patients with Pirads 3, 4 or 5 showed negative results in almost all cores taken by concurrent systematic TPUS-GB.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive mpMRI-TPUS fusion biopsy is a useful tool to diagnose PCa in patients with previous negative prostate biopsy. The samples obtained from the suspicious areas in the mpMRI detect more cases of intermediate and high risk PCa compared to the samples obtained at random or from non-suspicious areas.

Controversies in MR targeted biopsy: alone or combined, cognitive versus software-based fusion, transrectal versus transperineal approach?

PURPOSE

To review the evidence addressing current controversies around prostate biopsy. Specific questions explored were (1) mpMRI targeted (TgBx) alone versus combined with systematic (SBx) biopsy; (2) cognitive versus software-based targeted biopsy; (3) transrectal or transperineal route (TP).

METHODS

We performed a literature search of peer-reviewed English language articles using PubMed and the words "prostate" AND "biopsy". Web search was implemented by manual search.

RESULTS

Prostate mpMRI is revolutionizing prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, and TgBx improves the detection of clinically significant (cs) PCa compared to SBx alone. The utility of combining SBx-TgBx is variable, but in non-expert centres the two should be combined to overcome learning curve-limitations. Whether SBx should be maintained in expert centres depends on what rate of missed cancer the urological community and patients are prone to accept; this has implications for insignificant cancer diagnosis as well. TgBx may be more precise using a software-based-approach despite cognitive TgBx proved non-inferior in some studies, and may be used for large accessible lesions. TP-biopsies are feasible in an in-office setting. Avoidance of the rectum and accessibility of virtually all prostate areas are attractive features. However, this has to be balanced with local setting and resources implications. Ongoing trials will shed light on unsolved issues.

CONCLUSION

The prostate biopsy strategy should be tailored to local expertise, needs and resources availability. Targeted biopsy enhance the ratio between cs and insignificant cancer diagnosis, although some csPCa might be missed. Software-based TgBx are likely to be more precise, especially for new users, although the additional cost might be not justified in all cases. TPBx have ideal attributes for performing TgBx and avoiding infection, although this has resources implications.

A significant percentage of patients with transrectal biopsy-related infections have positive blood cultures but negative urine cultures. A literature review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Infectious complications after transrectal prostate biopsy are rare. Nevertheless, since these are frequent procedures, the burden of infectious complications is high. Considering the increasing antimicrobial resistance, microbiological confirmation is important to guide antimicrobial therapy.

METHODS

We reviewed PubMed for original studies providing concurrent urine and blood culture data in symptomatic patients with transrectal biopsy-related infectious complications. We performed a proportions meta-analysis (with MedCalc) and calculated the pooled yield of urine and blood cultures and the pooled discordance rate between urine and blood cultures.

RESULTS

Our review identified 41 studies, involving 852 patients with infectious complications after transrectal prostate biopsy and sufficient data to calculate discordance. The pooled yield of urine cultures was 64.6% (95% CI: 56.2-72.3%, I² 83%), the pooled yield of blood cultures was 43% (95% CI: 36.5-49.7%, I² 74%) and the pooled discordance rate was 14% (95% CI: 10.6-17.8%, I² 53%). In subgroup analyses the pooled discordance was; 19.6% (95% CI: 11.8-28.9%, I² 31%) in 113 patients presenting within 2 calendar days after the biopsy and 11.2% (95% CI: 4.5-20%, I² 47%) in 143 patients presenting with fever and symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms. The statistical and methodological heterogeneity of included studies was high.

CONCLUSION

Obtaining blood cultures is reasonable in all patients presenting with systemic symptoms suggestive of infection after a transrectal prostate biopsy. Blood cultures can provide additional microbiological data in about 1 of 7 patients with post-biopsy infectious complications. Prospective studies are needed to validate these results.

Transperineal vs. transrectal biopsy in MRI targeting

Prostate biopsy is typically performed via either the transrectal or transperineal approach. MRI-targeted biopsy, whether using any of the three options of cognitive fusion, MRI-ultrasound fusion software, or in-bore MRI-guided biopsy, can also be performed via either transrectal or transperineal approaches. As an extension of traditional random prostate biopsy, the transrectal approach is far more commonly used for MRI-targeted biopsy due to its convenience. However, in the context of today’s increasing multi-drug resistance of rectal flora, the transperineal approach is being used more often due to its lack of septic complications. In addition, only a first-generation cephalosporin, not a fluoroquinolone, is required as antibiotic prophylaxis. Evidence shows excellent detection rates of significant prostate cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted and/or systematic transperineal biopsy (TPB). However, there are no head-to-head studies comparing the different MRI-targeted methods within TPB. To provide truly patient-centred care, the biopsy technique using the safest method with the highest detection rate of significant cancer should be used. Depending on healthcare context and hospital resource utilization, MRI-targeted TPB is an excellent option and should be performed wherever available and feasible. Whilst building capacity for TPB in one’s practice, the routine use of rectal culture swabs prior to any transrectal biopsies is strongly encouraged. Independent of biopsy route, the addition of systematic cores needs to be discussed with the patient weighing maximal detection of significant cancer against increased detection of insignificant lesions.