Anaerobic septicemia after transrectal prostatic biopsy.

Transrectal biopsy of the prostate resulted in anaerobic septicemia in two patients, despite parenteral gentamicin sulfate prophylaxis. Bacteroides fragilis sepsis developed subacutely in one patient having a postbiopsy pelvic abscess. Clostridium perfringens sepsis occurred fulminantly in another patient 24 hours after biopsy of a gland extensively involved with adenocarcinoma. These cases indicate a potential hazard of sepsis due to anaerobic contamination with rectal microflora at the time of transrectal prostatic biopsy and the futility of prophylaxis directed only at aerobic bacteria.