Prostate biopsies remain a key step in the diagnosis of prostate cancer and are performed either via a transrectal (TR) or a transperineal (TP) route. In general, the approaches are considered to provide similar diagnostic power. However, infectious complications appear to differ in favour of the TP approach. Furthermore, antibiotic prophylaxis is felt to have limited additional value in a TP biopsy, which aligns with antimicrobial stewardship principles. Urology association guidelines have provided conflicting recommendations on the best approach for a prostate biopsy. This systematic review aims to compare the infectious complications and antibiotic usage of the two approaches. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines after registration with PROSPERO (CRD42024513309). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles published until April 1, 2025. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing infectious complications (fever, urinary tract infection, and hospitalisation with infectious complications) following a prostate biopsy were included. The risk of bias was assessed with the RoB 2 tool, and statistical analyses included visualisation through funnel and forest plots and assessing the publication bias via Egger's regression test. Ten RCTs were included in the analysis, encompassing 4188 prostate biopsies. Of seven studies reporting hospitalisation for infectious complications, the TP route showed significantly lower odds (odds ratio 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.54; graphical abstract), reducing hospitalisation risk by 77% compared with the TR route. Postinterventional fever occurred less frequently, with an odds ratio of 0.68 (95% CI 0.52-0.89). There was no statistically significant difference in infectious complications after a TP biopsy with or without antibiotics. All TR route biopsies utilised antibiotic prophylaxis. The small number of eligible studies and the high risk of bias, as well as sparse data on bias in most studies, limit the power of our manuscript. TP biopsy is associated with a lower admission risk due to postprocedural infection compared with TR biopsy. TP biopsy seems to be a safe procedure without antibiotics in patients without risk factors, advocating for enhanced antimicrobial stewardship in urology.

Background: Patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) often rely on some type of catheterization for bladder emptying. Intermittent catheterization (IC) is considered the gold standard and is preferred over continuous catheterization, since it is considered to cause fewer urinary tract infections (UTIs) than indwelling catheterization. The main objective of our study was to describe UTI prevalence (at visit) and incidence (within the last 12 months) and urine culture characteristics between patients using an indwelling catheter versus (vs) those performing IC. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we prospectively evaluated from 02/2020 to 01/2021 patients with NLUTD undergoing urine cultures for prophylactic reasons or due to UTI symptoms. At visit, all patients underwent a standardized interview on current UTI symptoms as well as UTI history and antibiotic consumption within the past year. Patients using an indwelling catheter (n = 206) or IC (n = 299) were included in the analysis. The main outcome was between-group differences regarding UTI characteristics. Results: Patients using an indwelling catheter were older (indwelling catheter vs IC: median 66 (Q1-Q3: 55—77) vs 55 (42—67) years of age) and showed a higher Charlson comorbidity index (indwelling catheter vs IC: median 4 (Q1-Q3: 2–6) vs 2 (1–4) (both p < 0·001). A total of 40 patients from both groups were diagnosed with a UTI at visit (indwelling catheters vs IC: 8% (16/206) vs 8% (24/299); p = 0·782), and the number of UTIs within the past 12 months was not significantly different between groups. Overall, Escherichia coli (21%), Enterococcus faecalis (17%), and Klebsiella spp. (12%) were the most frequently detected bacteria. Conclusions: In this cohort of patients with NLUTD, we did not find relevant differences in UTI frequency between groups. These results suggest that UTI-related concerns should not be given undue emphasis when counseling patients for catheter-related bladder emptying methods.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common among older individuals, especially those with frailty and comorbidity. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is also common in this group and does not require treatment. UTI diagnosis is complicated by atypical signs and symptoms such as confusion or functional decline. This necessitates a more holistic assessment according to a diagnostic algorithm that includes nonspecific symptoms to avoid overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis. Treatment strategies for UTI in older people generally align with those for younger people, with some exceptions. Prophylaxis is similar to that for postmenopausal women. However, it is crucial to carefully consider comorbidities, polypharmacy, and the risk of potential adverse events. PATIENT SUMMARY: We provide recommendations for the management of urinary tract infection (UTI) in older individuals who are frail and have multiple medical conditions. These patients may have signs and symptoms that are not typical for UTI. Treatment plans for these vulnerable patients should take interactions with other drugs and possible side effects into account.

Background: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a life-threatening, necrotizing infection. Due to the rareness of the disease, it is challenging to plan robust prospective studies. This study aims to describe current practice patterns of FG in Europe and identify implications for planning a prospective FG registry. Methods: Online non-validated 17-items survey among urologists treating FG in in European hospitals. Questionnaires were analyzed with LimeSurvey (LimeSurvey GmbH Hamburg, Germany). Results: 229 responses from ten different European countries were submitted, and 117 (51.1%) urologists completed the questionnaire. The departments treat a mean of 4.2 (SD 3.11) patients per year. The urology department mostly takes the lead in treating FG patients (n = 113; 96.6%). The practice in FG is very heterogenic and mostly case-based all over Europe, e.g., vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) is mostly used (n = 50; 42.7%) as adjunct wound. The biggest challenges in FG are the short time to diagnosis and treatment, standardization and establishment of guidelines, and disease awareness. Additionally, participants stated that an international registry is an outstanding initiative, and predictive models are needed. Conclusions: There is no standard of care in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of FG all over Europe. Further research could be conducted with a prospective registry.