Outcomes of freehand transperineal prostate biopsy with omission of antibiotic prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of antimicrobial prophylaxis when performing freehand systematic transperineal (TP) biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2012 to February 2020, freehand TP prostate biopsy via angiocatheters or the PrecisionPoint Transperineal Access System was performed on consecutive men with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) or confirmed PCa. Biopsies were performed by a single urologist (developer of the PrecisionPoint system). Clinical data were collected retrospectively. Pre-procedural antibiotics were given to all patients up until 6 September 2016. After this date, antibiotics were omitted from those without risk factors (chronic catherization, concurrent endoscopic procedure, history of sepsis after transrectal [TR] biopsy, history of TR biopsy within the last year, prosthetic joints/heart valves). Patients were assessed 1 week after biopsy for symptoms, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions. Patients who received antimicrobial prophylaxis were compared with those who did not, and infectious complications were analysed. Additionally, oncological outcomes were reported. RESULTS: A total of 988 biopsies (median prostate-specific antigen level 7.7 ng/mL) were included in the analysis on 756 patients. Prophylaxis was given in 538 of the biopsies (54.4%) and in 450 (48.6%) it was not. There was a statistical difference in median age (67 vs 69 years; P < 0.001), abnormal digital rectal examination (13% vs 5%; P < 0.001), and history of multiparametic magnetic resonance imaging (15% vs 31%; P < 0.001) between the prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis cohorts, respectively. There were no documented complications in those who received antibiotics. Within the no-prophylaxis cohort, there were three (0.66%) complications (P = 0.09). Two patients (0.44%) had urinary tract infections and one patient (0.22%) experienced post-procedural urinary retention. No patient required hospital admission or an emergency department visit. Clinically significant cancer was detected in 152 (40.0%) and 64 patients (39.0%) on initial biopsy and prior negative biopsy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that antimicrobial prophylaxis may be safely omitted in selected patients when using the freehand TP approach.