|Articles|February 1, 2016

Targeted Antibiotics May Help Protect Against Infections in Men Being Tested for Prostate Cancer

A new review indicates that antimicrobial therapy given before clinicians take transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies to diagnose prostate cancer may lead to lower rates of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening infection.

The review, which included nine studies in multiple countries, found that 27 men would need to receive targeted antibiotics to prevent one infective complication.

"In light of these findings we are planning to introduce rectal swabs and targeted antibiotic prophylaxis as a necessary preparation for transrectal prostate biopsy," said Tim Dudderidge, consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital and senior author of the BJU International review. "The only question is whether techniques involving multiparametric MRI of the prostate and targeted transperineal biopsy will make transrectal biopsy obsolete first."

Source: Wiley


Related to this article

Image of Pathogens flying   (Adobe Stock weerasak)
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
AORN26 New Orleans 2026  (Adobe Stock)
Missing instruments and processing delays can strain OR–SPD relationships. At AORN 2026, John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, discusses understanding root causes, exploring off-site reprocessing for ambulatory surgical centers, and using hands-on simulation to help surgical teams see sterile processing from a different perspective.