Antibiotic prophylaxis for transrectal prostate biopsy: a prospective randomized study of tosufloxacin versus levofloxacin.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of tosufloxacin as a prophylactic agent for transrectal biopsy of the prostate (TBP), we conducted a randomized prospective study comparing tosufloxacin versus levofloxacin.

METHODS

A randomized prospective study comparing tosufloxacin versus levofloxacin was performed. In group A, 124 patients received 300 mg tosufloxacin tosilate (including 204 mg tosufloxacin) twice daily for 2 days, with the initial dose being 2 h prior to biopsy. In group B, 119 patients received 200 mg levofloxacin in the same manner.

RESULTS

Infectious complications were reported equally in six cases in each group (4.8% in group A and 5.0% in group B). Each group included five cases of acute prostatitis and one of cystitis. Six patients suffering from prostatitis required hospitalization, while those with symptomatic urinary tract infection were treated as outpatients.

CONCLUSIONS

Tosufloxacin was as effective as levofloxacin when administered twice daily for 2 days as prophylaxis for TBP, which suggests that this regimen is useful for reducing the clinical and febrile infection rate following TBP.