Worrying Increase in Prostate Biopsy Infections
Prostate biopsies are common procedures with more than 1 million people undergoing these annually, but many of these procedures end with serious bloodstream infections. A study at the University of Toronto has found that the rates of bloodstream infections from these infections that are serious enough to require hospitalization, is actually increasing.
The University of Toronto study echoes the results of another study by John Hopkins University. The John Hopkins researchers found that out of more than 100,000 patients who underwent prostate biopsies, 7% suffered complications. Out of these complications, many were infections. What is worrying is that the rate of infection- related complications from prostate biopsies has increased, while there has been no change in the rate of other complications from these biopsies.
These infections are being seen even though doctors usually give a person an antibiotic course before a biopsy to prevent infections. The rise of antibiotic-resistant microbes has meant that these antibiotics may not work as well as hoped to prevent an infection.
What is also worrying is that these infections are often bloodstream infections. These are deadly infections that often lead to complications like sepsis. Bloodstream infections have been a source of concern for Indiana medical malpractice attorneys for years now. However, there are signs that doctors are beginning to take the risks from prostate biopsies a little more seriously, and are evaluating the criteria they use before they prescribe a biopsy.
The risk of bloodstream-infections from prostate biopsies has meant that doctors are now less likely to simply prescribe a prostate biopsy, and more likely to evaluate whether the person really needs one before recommending a biopsy.
