Effect of intrarectal povidone-iodine in the incidence of infectious complications after transrectal prostatic biopsy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of genitourinary infections associated with transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-BX) using endorectal povidone-iodine gel as a bactericidal agent.

METHODS: We prospectively studied a total of 530 patients who were given 30g of 10% povidone-iodine intrarectally before TRUS-BX. Each patient received antibiotic prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin, starting the previous day (1g/day x 3 days), as well as cleansing enemas.

RESULTS: One patient (0.20%) presented with an E. coli acute bacterial epididymitis after biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the intrarectal use of 10% povidone-iodine gel in TRUS-BX is associated with a much lower rate of infectious complications compared to those described in recent literature.