Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand Vol 92, No 12:DECEMBER 2009 0125-2208 92 12 2009 Dec Reduction in Bacteremia Rates after Rectum Sterilization before Transrectal, Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial 1621 EN Panupong Kanjanawongdeengam Wit Viseshsindh Pitak Santanirand Prapapan Prathombutr Supannee Nilkulwattana Original Article To determine the efficacy of rectum sterilization before TRUS guided prostate biopsy in order todecrease bacteremia rate and sepsis complication. From August 2008 to March 2009, 100 volunteers who had an indication for prostatebiopsy were recruited into the present study in a randomized controlled trial. The present study was approvedby the Ethics Committee on Human Experimentation of Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine, MahidolUniversity. The volunteers received unison enema one day before and Ciprofloxacin 500 mg 0.5-1 hr before theprocedure. These 100 volunteers were divided into two groups; 50 were randomly assigned in the group ofrectum cleaning with 10% povidone-iodine, whereas the other 50 volunteers were placed in the controlgroup. Twelve cores of TRUS guided prostate biopsy were performed. After the procedure, peripheral bloodsamples were taken for cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. A clinical follow-up at 48-72 hrs after theprocedure was done via telephone. Hemocultures were positive for 9 cases in the rectum cleaning group and 2 cases in the control group(p = 0.025). Three volunteers (one in the rectum cleaning group and two in the control group) had a postoperativefever but it spontaneously resolved. Two volunteers in the control group came back to the hospitalbecause of urinary tract infections and rectal bleeding. None of the volunteers had clinical sepsis or went toother hospitals. Sterilization of the rectum before TRUS guided prostate biopsy was found to reduce postoperativebacteremia and might reduce clinical infections. Prostate Biopsy Bacteremia Povidone-iodine