Urinary tract infection after transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate

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