Standardized protocol in preventing postoperative infectious complications after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: A retrospective study of 246 patients

Objective This study was carried out to compare infectious complications between patients with and without a set protocol for prostate biopsy. Materials and methods Patients whom underwent prostate biopsy at our hospital from 2001 to 2012 were first identified. Two different groups of patients were then selected from 2 different years. The cut-off year in which we started to implement a standardized protocol for prostate biopsy was 2007. Data from the patient group without a set protocol were collected from January 2001 to December 2001. Data from the patient group with a set protocol were collected from January 2012 to December 2012. Results A total of 246 patients were selected from 2 different years. Ninety-two patients were collected from January to December 2001 (without set protocol). One hundred and fifty-four patients were collected from January to December 2012 (with set protocol). In the first group, the infectious complication rate was 10.75% (10/92), whereas in the second group, the infection rate was 1.3% (2/154). All minor complications (such as hematuria, hematospermia, dysuria, etc.) were self-resolving within 1 month. Most infectious complications were managed during outpatient department (OPD) hours with oral antibiotics. Only one patient required hospitalization (from 2001). None of the positive culture results revealed any resistant strain species. Conclusion The minor complications were similar in both groups and were all self-resolving. Infectious complications were more prevalent in the group without a set protocol. Adequate perioperative preparation and postoperative antibiotic regimens appear to be helpful in the prevention of infectious complications.