Too much antibiotic use by urologists

Urologists are using too much antibiotics in clean procedures, and this practice may lead to antibiotic resistance, according to a study by the EAU Section of Infections in Urology (ESIU).

"In a recent issue of European Urology we published data from the GPIU study on antimicrobial prophylaxis in urology with Mete Cek as first author. Urologist's use of antibiotics is not according to the EAU guidelines, we do not adhere to the principle of contamination categories and we use too much antibiotics in clean procedures,” said ESIU chairman Prof. Truls E. Bjerklund Johansen.

"The issue of infectious complications after prostate biopsies is extremely important, but antimicrobial prophylaxis in general is also important,” said Bjerklund Johansen in an interview. Highlights from the GPIU studies will be presented at the GPIU 10-year anniversary symposium today during the joint ESIU- EAU Section of Andrological Urology (ESAU) meeting. Johansen also said that in a sub-plenary session on Monday speakers will address the concerns of increasing antimicrobial resistance and the lack of new antibiotics.

According to Johansen, one of important findings from the GPIU side studies were on infections after prostate biopsies. The results were published in the latest issue of European Urology (with Florian Wagenlehner as first author).

"We could show that 5.2% of men develop symptomatic UTI, 3.5% a febrile UTI and 3.2% were hospitalised because of febrile UTI after prostate biopsies. Ciprofloxacin resistance seems to be an important risk factor. Considering the vast number of biopsies being taken and the risks of urosepsis we must reconsider our strategies in prostate cancer andbalance the side effects of biopsies against the benefits of prostate cancer treatment,” Bjerklund Johansen explained.