Objectives: This study aimed to describe a UK institution’s experience with local anaesthetic (LA) transperineal (TP) prostate biopsies (PB), and to report 30-day complications following LATPPB, including a large cohort that did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients and methods: A prospective database of 313 consecutive patients undergoing LATPPB was maintained, describing patient and disease characteristics, and complications. From September 2019 to January 2020, antibiotic prophylaxis was given before LATPPB ( n=149). Following a change to routine care, from January 2020 to July 2020, prophylactic antibiotics were not given before LATPPB ( n=164). A comparative analysis was performed to determine complication rates following antibiotic prophylaxis discontinuation using electronic hospital and primary care records. Results: Patient and disease characteristics were comparable in antibiotic and non-antibiotic cohorts, and representative of PB and prostate cancer cohorts described in the urological literature. The infection-related complication rate was 0.32% across all patients, and 0% for those not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. The overall complication rate was 0.64%, and 0.61% for those not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. There were no severe (Clavien–Dindo 3–5) complications. The unplanned hospital admission rate was 0.64%. Conclusion: The complication rate after LATPPB was low, with no infection-related complications in patients who did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis. This provides further evidence supporting the discontinuation of routine prophylactic antibiotics before TPPB. Level of evidence: Level 2b.

A Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) review highlighted the need for integrated care pathways (ICPs) within our Trust and a working party was formed to guide their development. From a survey of current awareness and activity the committee identified several priorities: • creating awareness and interest • initiating learning programmes for interested staff • developing support structure for enthusiasts • defining the process of ratification • formulating Trust style. Leaflets were circulated to all departments to stimulate interest and a seminar programme was introduced with staff from key areas being targeted. An intranet site was authored with lists of support staff, details of in-house resources and links to external agencies. This was backed up with a paper resource folder in central and departmental libraries. A degree of harmonisation of style was seen as being potentially advantageous by facilitating the use of ICPs across directorates. A Trust pro forma style was produced to guide and ease this process. It was suggested that a document that explained the nature of ICPs, detailed Trust policy and provided tips for authorship would be a useful reference for those new to creating ICPs. Guidance for Integrated Care Pathways was written with these aims in mind. It was co-authored by three members of the committee and circulated for comments. After ratification by the Trust board it was posted on the intranet site and included in the resource folder. It is a working document that is reviewed regularly, and is intended to facilitate the process and not to be overly prescriptive. Comments and suggestions from throughout the Trust are welcomed.

No abstract

Introduction: Modern image-guided biopsy pathways at diagnostic centres have greatly refined the investigations of men referred with suspected prostate cancer. However, the referral criteria from primary care are still based on historical prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cut-offs and age-referenced thresholds. Here, we tested whether better contemporary pathways and biopsy methods had improved the predictive utility value of PSA referral thresholds. Methods: PSA referral thresholds, age-referenced ranges and PSA density (PSAd) were assessed for positive predictive value (PPV) in detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa – histological ⩾ Grade Group 2). Data were analysed from men referred to three diagnostics centres who used multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-guided prostate biopsies for disease characterisation. Findings were validated in a separate multicentre cohort. Results: Data from 2767 men were included in this study. The median age, PSA and PSAd were 66.4 years, 7.3 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL2, respectively. Biopsy detected csPCa was found in 38.7%. The overall area under the curve (AUC) for PSA was 0.68 which is similar to historical performance. A PSA threshold of ⩾ 3 ng/mL had a PPV of 40.3%, but this was age dependent (PPV: 24.8%, 32.7% and 56.8% in men 50–59 years, 60–69 years and ⩾ 70 years, respectively). Different PSA cut-offs and age-reference ranges failed to demonstrate better performance. PSAd demonstrated improved AUC (0.78 vs 0.68, p < 0.0001) and improved PPV compared to PSA. A PSAd of ⩾ 0.10 had a PPV of 48.2% and similar negative predictive value (NPV) to PSA ⩾ 3 ng/mL and out-performed PSA age-reference ranges. This improved performance was recapitulated in a separate multi-centre cohort ( n = 541). Conclusion: The introduction of MRI-based image-guided biopsy pathways does not appear to have altered PSA diagnostic test characteristics to positively detect csPCa. We find no added value to PSA age-referenced ranges, while PSAd offers better PPV and the potential for a single clinically useful threshold (⩾0.10) for all age groups. Level of evidence: IV

Nocturia may be a multifactorial condition and should be regarded as a syndrome rather than a diagnosis, with many factors contributing to the clinical presentation. The effects of sleep deprivation can have a severely detrimental impact on the quality of life and productivity of the working age population, with considerable economic implications. Patients are unlikely to seek an appointment with their GP complaining of nocturia – they are more likely to complain of the effects of the condition, such as chronic tiredness, or injuries resulting from falls. The main criterion in deciding whether a patient should undergo further investigations into suspected nocturia is the degree to which the patient finds the condition bothersome. In some patients, lifestyle modifications may be an effective way to manage nocturia before medication is considered. As the only licensed product for all adults including those over 65 years of age, low dose desmopressin (Noqdirna® (as lyophilisate) Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd) is highly effective in the management of idiopathic nocturnal polyuria, producing improvements in clinical symptoms, sleep parameters and quality of life. Care should be administered as a joint enterprise between the patient's GP and colleagues in secondary care. This article outlines the findings of a roundtable discussion into the optimal management of patients with nocturnal polyuria.