OBJECTIVETo clarify the value of endotoxin determination in evaluating the infection risk and antibiotic prophylaxis during transrectal biopsy of the prostate.

METHODSForty-eight patients were divided into four groups randomly. Group A (12 patients) were not treated before biopsy. Group B (13 patients) received antibiotic prophylaxis therapy. Group C (12 patients) underwent clusis. Group D (11 patients) received combined treatment. Urine and blood samples of the patients were obtained before and after prostatic biopsy. All samples were cultured for bacteria and investigated for endotoxin concentration by limulus quantitative azo color test.

RESULTSNo significant difference in either serum endotoxin or blood bacterial cultures was noted before and after prostatic biopsy (P < 0.05) in all the groups. A significant increase was observed in urine endotoxin after biopsy compared with that before biopsy in Groups A and B (P < 0.05). There was no significant increase in urine endotoxin after biopsy compared with that before biopsy in Group C and D. The positive incidence of urine bacterial culture was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in patients of Group A and B.

CONCLUSIONCirculation infection risk following prostatic biopsy was low. Changes of urinary infection were fewer in patients who had undergone clusis and/or antibiotic prophylaxis than in those who had received no or only antibiotic prophylaxis therapy. Endotoxin determination in urine is a reliable, sensitive and simple method for diagnosis of bacterial infection in patients undergoing transrectal biopsy of the prostate.