RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PENILE PROSTHESIS INFECTION

We reviewed all 269 patients who underwent penile prosthetic implantation during the last 10 years. The data were analyzed to determine the rate of penile prosthesis infection and to determine the risk factors associated with these infections in this group. We also examined the effect of strict surgical technique, intraoperative scrub and perioperative antibiotics on these implant infections. All patients had perioperative antibiotics, an intraoperative shave and a 15-minute intraoperative skin preparation. There were 162 semirigid and 107 inflatable prostheses inserted. Mean followup was 32 months (range 2 to 123 months). Only 6 patients had an infection, with 5 prostheses being removed. All 6 patients had a history of urinary tract infection. Furthermore, all 6 patients had either a neurogenic bladder (4), diabetes (1) or an ileal conduit (1), which increased the risk of a urinary tract infection. Cultures of the infected prostheses revealed only enteric organisms. No staphylococci were cultured. We conclude that perioperative antibiotics, intraoperative shave and scrub, and strict surgical technique resulted in a low prosthesis infection rate (1.9%) in these patients. However, a group of patients still exist that despite these precautions are at risk for infection due to conditions that may predispose them to urinary tract infections.