Men hospitalized for blood poisoning after prostate cancer biopsies halved in Denmark

In just one year, the percentage of men admitted to hospitals with suspected severe blood poisoning following prostate cancer biopsies has been cut in half. This significant improvement is largely attributed to the shift from rectal biopsies to those performed through the perineum, according to Michael Borre, a professor and senior physician at Aarhus University and chair of the Danish Prostate Cancer Group.

Borre notes that blood poisoning is a serious condition that can potentially be fatal. In 2022, four percent of men diagnosed with cancer via biopsy were subsequently hospitalized; this figure dropped to two percent, equating to 104 men, in 2023.

A biopsy involves removing tissue for closer examination to establish a diagnosis. Previously, rectal biopsies were administered multiple times through the rectum, an area rife with bacteria, making infections likely unless antibiotics were administered. However, even with preventative antibiotics, a portion of patients still faced hospitalization risks.

The implementation of perineal biopsies allows for a more sterile procedure, reducing the likelihood of infection. This approach also eliminates the need for routine antibiotic use—a positive change, especially as the EU has raised concerns about the risk of antibiotic resistance from these medications.

New clinical guidelines have been updated to recommend perineal biopsies whenever possible. By 2023, 59 percent of all biopsies were performed through the perineum. Concurrently, the introduction of MRI scans prior to biopsies, rather than relying solely on ultrasound during the procedure, has vastly improved targeting accuracy and reduced the number of procedures needed, ultimately lowering infection risks.