Importance of Transrectal Povidone-iodine Activity in Reducing Infections After Prostate Biopsy

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of transrectal povidone-iodine antiseptic solution in minimizing infections following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 240 patients who underwent TRUS-guided biopsy at our clinic between January 2016 and December 2020. All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis prior to the procedure. The patients were categorized into three groups: Group 1, which served as the control, received only antibiotic prophylaxis; Group 2, which consisted of patients administered transrectal povidone-iodine via a catheter syringe; and Group 3, which underwent povidone-iodine rectal cleansing. The primary objective was to compare infection rates and complications among the three groups, with a particular emphasis on the combined effect of povidone-iodine and prophylactic antibiotics versus antibiotics alone. Results: Infection rates were notably reduced in patients who received povidone-iodine interventions (p<0.05). Febrile infections occurred in 10 cases (4.25%) patients in Group 1, in whom ciprofloxacin alone was administered. In contrast, febrile complications were observed in 3 cases in Group 2, and only 2 cases in Group 3, corresponding to rates of 1.3% and 0.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of transrectal povidone-iodine and prophylactic antibiotics demonstrated significant efficacy in minimizing febrile infectious complications associated with TRUS-guided biopsy.