Polymerase chain reaction amplification of bacterial 16s rRNA genes in prostate biopsies from men without chronic prostatitis

Objectives. A previously reported study using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated the presence of DNA from a variety of prokaryotic microorganisms in 77% of transperineal prostate biopsies from patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Because that study did not include a control group, we investigated whether microbial DNA could also be found in transperineal prostate biopsies obtained from men who did not have a history of prostatitis. Methods. Transperineal biopsies of both lobes of the prostate were obtained under ultrasound guidance from 9 patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. DNA was extracted from the prostatic tissue and two-round amplification performed using nested primers from a highly conserved region of the bacterial 16s rRNA gene. Amplified DNA was purified and sequenced, and sequences obtained were compared to bacterial rRNA genes recorded in GenBank. Results. Eleven of 18 biopsy specimens from 8 of 9 patients were positive for bacterial DNA by PCR. Sequence data indicated a predominant organism in 8 of 11 specimens, with greater than 95% homology to DNA from several different genera of bacteria, including Escherichia and Bacteroides. All 9 control samples from the instruments before biopsy were negative. Conclusions. The presence of bacterial 16s rRNA genes in prostatic tissue is not specific for chronic prostatitis and occurred in most of our patients with localized prostate cancer. Whether the presence of such bacteria is related to the development of prostatic diseases such as prostatitis or prostatic cancer will require carefully controlled trials, including appropriate control groups examined identically. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.