Transrectal biopsy of the prostate and bacteraemia

Bacteraemia and urinary tract infection are well-recognized complications of urological procedures. This paper compares, for the first time, the incidence of bacteraemia after cystoscopy and transrectal biopsy of the prostate with that following cystoscopy alone. The incidence of bacteraemia in those undergoing biopsy was 73 per cent; following cystoscopy alone the incidence was 13 per cent. In view of this high incidence we recommend prophylactic antibiotic cover of transrectal prostatic biopsy.