Risk factors for urological prosthetic infection

Abstract

We reviewed our experience of 91 procedures for implant and revision of urological prostheses from 1989 to 1996. The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors for urological prostheses. The procedures consisted of 48 implants of artificial urinary sphincters AMS 800 (35 primary implants and 13 revisions) and 43 penile prostheses (40 primary implants and 3 revisions). Simultaneous penile reconstruction was performed in 5 cases. The mean follow-up was 2 years (range 1-6 years) for artificial urinary sphincter and 1.8 years (range 1-4) for penile prostheses. Infection occurred in 7 cases (4 urinary sphincter and 3 penile prostheses). The infection rate after primary uncomplicated implant of AMS 800 was 8.5% compared to 7.6% for revision procedures (p=n.s.). The infection rate after primary implant of penile prostheses was 5% compared to 33% for revision procedures. There was a similar significant difference between the penile prostheses implant group with reconstruction of the corpora (2 out 5 patients) and the primary uncomplicated implant group (p=0.001). The risk of infection is significantly greater when penile reconstruction is required and is associated with revision operations.