Introduction of surgical site surveillance post transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy and the impact on infection rates

BACKGROUND: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is associated with infection rates between 0.3 % and 3.2%. Infectious complications include urinary tract infection, prostatitis, bacteraemia and sepsis. Surgical site surveillance in this patient cohort is becoming increasingly important given global increases in antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: Surgical site surveillance for patients undergoing TRUS biopsies was introduced in our hospital in 2017. All patients had a risk assessment form completed to assess for carriage or risk of carriage of multi-drug resistant organisms. An intense analysis was completed on any patient who developed an infection post-TRUS biopsy. Data was fed back on a quarterly basis to a multi-disciplinary working group. Members of this group include a Consultant Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, Consultant Urologist, Antimicrobial Pharmacists and Clinical Nurse Ward Managers. RESULTS: 784 TRUS-guided biopsy of the prostate procedures were performed between January 1 st 2017 and the end of the third quarter, 2021. The rate of infection post-TRUS was 2.7% in 2017, 3.4% in 2018 and 3.2% in 2019. This improved to 0% in 2020 and 0.8% in the first three quarters of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Several interventions were introduced resulting in a sustained reduction in infection rates in this cohort. These include changing the choice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis, improvement in the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis and scheduling of other urology procedures. The introduction of surgical site surveillance and multi-disciplinary input has demonstrated a reduction in infection rates post TRUS biopsy.