Preventing Infectious Complications Following Prostate Biopsy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Alternative Approaches to Transrectal Biopsy with Empirical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Therapy.

Background and objective: Prostate biopsy, conducted frequently through the transrectal route, is associated with significant risks of infectious complications. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of various strategies to reduce these complications, using a network meta-analysis approach.

Methods: Our study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane database as of March 1, 2024. We included studies that involved adults undergoing transrectal or transperineal prostate biopsy with either standard empirical antibiotic prophylaxis or alternative interventions. The primary outcomes were assessment of sepsis, fever, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and readmissions. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024532225).

Key findings and limitations: Our search yielded 28 RCTs eligible for analysis, encompassing a total of 10 179 participants. Rectal cleansing had the highest rankogram score to reduce infectious complications such as sepsis (odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval [0.28-0.58]; rankogram, p score = 0.917), followed by transperineal biopsy (p score = 0.496). The overall analysis also highlighted a lower incidence of UTIs and readmissions with this method. Heterogeneity among studies was minimal (I² < 50% for all outcomes).

Conclusions and clinical implications: Rectal cleansing might be the most effective strategy to reduce infectious complications following transrectal prostate biopsy and could be more effective than rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis and transperineal biopsy. Given the indirect nature of our comparisons, further RCTs are needed to determine the safest approach for prostate biopsy, particularly between transperineal biopsy and transrectal biopsy with rectal cleansing or rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis.

Patient summary: In this review, we analyzed different techniques to reduce infectious complications after a prostate biopsy. We found that rectal cleansing prior to performing a transrectal prostate biopsy reduced infectious complications and might be the most effective strategy. We conclude that either transperineal or transrectal prostate biopsies are acceptable approaches, albeit with rectal cleansing or rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis, respectively.