This project is aimed to transfer a technology able to eliminate the risk of infection after biopsy procedures. It is based on electrically releasing silver ions from a thin silver coating on the biopsy needle so that a long term bactericidal effect is obtained.

Prostate cancer affects one in seven men. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy stands out as the gold-standard for its diagnosis. But this procedure is not innocuous. Since the rectal wall is punctured during the biopsy, bacteria naturally confined within the rectum can produce infectious complications. Nowadays, the only way to prevent these harmful infections is by administering antibiotics. However, the increasing resistance of bacterial to antibiotics results in a rise in these complications. Currently it is reported between 2% and 5% of the patients undergoing a transrectal prostate biopsy develop a severe infection.