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 309 of 10% povidone-iodine intrarectally before TRUS-BX. Each patient received antibiotic prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin, starteing 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 intarrectal 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.