To perform pilot testing regarding implementation of a point-of-care qPCR-based test (EST200) targeting bacterial clonal groups representing the majority of sepsis-causing Escherichia coli before prostate biopsy to determine antibiotic selection.

After IRB approval, we obtained rectal swabs to compare real-time qPCR analysis on a Rotor-Gene Q instrument (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) to standard culture on ciprofloxacin infused (10mg/L) MacConkey agar and susceptibility testing. Techniques are compared by an area under the receiver operative curve (AUC).

A total of 140 men participated in the study, 102 prebiopsy cultures were utilized to guide prophylaxis. We did not meet our accrual for the randomized portion of the clinical study, yet we did randomized 38 men without prebiopsy cultures to physician choice of antibiotic versus PCR-based approach. Regarding predicting Fluoroquinolone Resistant (FQR) at biopsy, prebiopsy cultures had an AUC of 0.91 (95%CI 0.84-1.00, P > .001) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) had an AUC of 0.71 (95%CI 0.58-0.84, P = .005) (AUC comparison; Z = 2.31, P = .02). PCR correctly identified 4 of 5 FQR specimens. The PCR test attained an AUC of 0.79 (95%CI 0.56-1.00, P = .044) for detection of total FQR on the day of the biopsy. Risk-based techniques may overcompensate with additional antibiotics (21% versus 0%, P = .10).

EST200 is a rapid PCR-based microbial detection system that has moderate ability to detect total FQR at the time of biopsy. Our study is underpowered, yet provide opportunities to improve the point of care PCR method, such as table tope testing in less than 20 minutes and include additional antibacterial resistant genes.