Sustained-release antibacterial varnish-coated biopsy needle for reduction of infection rates following prostate biopsy-in vitro model.
OBJECTIVE
During the past decade, the incidence of severe infections after transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy has increased. Antibacterial sustained-release varnish has been shown to reduce bacterial infections. This varnish has yet to be tested in the field of urology. We undertook an in vitro study to assess the possibility of reducing infection rates after prostate biopsy by coating the needle with a novel sustained, yet rapid release chlorhexidine varnish (SRV-CHX) specifically modified for prostate biopsy.


METHODS
A model simulating the microbiologic environment of a prostate biopsy was developed. The model consisted of two layers of agar, of which the first represented the rectum and was preinfected with Escherichia coli. The second layer was sterile and represented tissue interposed between the rectum and prostate. SRV-CHX-coated biopsy needles were inserted 12 times through the two layers, into the third agar layer representing the prostate. Infection transmission was determined by assessing bacterial growth at inoculation sites within the agar plate representing the prostate. Bacterial growth inhibition was measured as an inhibition zone on the contaminated agar.


RESULTS
Testing the antibacterial effect of the SRV-CHX-coated needle, we found a substantial reduction of infection transmission as well as sustained inhibition of bacterial growth compared with control needles.


CONCLUSIONS
Needles coated with SRV-CHX offer a new strategy in infection control after prostate biopsy. A new strategy of SRV-coated prostate biopsy needles supplemented with various antibacterial agents, combined with prophylactic oral antibiotics should result in decreased infection rates after prostate biopsies. Further in vitro studies are needed to formulate the SRV with an optimal antibacterial agent.
Department of Urology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. glorber@hotmail.com
Gideon
G
Lorber
Mordechai
M
Duvdevani
Michael
M
Friedman
Eran
E
Lavy
Ezekiel H
EH
Landau
Ofer N
ON
Gofrit
Dov
D
Pode
Doron
D
Steinberg
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D010150:Paint; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins