ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a regimen of targeted prophylaxis using rectal swab culture in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy, and to investigate the characteristics of isolated fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out from June 2013 through December 2014. Rectal swabs were cultured on agar plates containing either 2 µg/mL levofloxacin or 1 µg/mL sitafloxacin before transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. Patients with susceptible organisms received levofloxacin or sitafloxacin, whereas those with resistant organisms received directed antimicrobial prophylaxis according to the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test. Patients with infectious complications after prostate biopsy were identified, and characteristics of patients carrying fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 397 men underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. Of these patients, 74 (18.6%) had fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. All fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli were susceptible to amikacin and meropenem. The risk factor for possible fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli was age of ≥73 years. Three (0.7%) patients who received appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis had high-grade fever after the prostate biopsy. However, the pathogens were not fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy can be associated with reducing severe infectious complications caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli.