The safety of transrectal biopsy of the prostate as an out-patient investigation.

The complications following transrectal prostatic biopsy are reviewed in 150 patients. The most frequent complications were urinary infection and pyrexia. A prospective study within the reported series demonstrated a high incidence of bacteriaemia following biopsy. The results suggest that transrectal prostatic biopsy may be performed safely as an out-patient procedure without the use of prophylactic antibiotics, although antibiotic therapy may be indicated when complications do arise.