Cultures from genitourinary prostheses at reoperation: questioning the role of Staphylococcus epidermidis in periprosthetic infection.

PURPOSE

We determine the colony counts of organisms present on culture of clinically uninfected genitourinary prostheses at reoperation for reasons other than infection. These results served as control data for comparison with cultures from infected devices to determine the relative incidence of organisms involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cultures were prospectively obtained from 65 penile prostheses and 22 artificial urinary sphincters. Patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months after reoperation or until development of infection (mean 27 months) at which time cultures were again obtained.

RESULTS

Low colony counts of Staphylococcus epidermidis were isolated from 40% of uninfected penile prostheses and 36% of artificial urinary sphincters. Only 3 of these devices later became infected (9%) and in all cases a higher colony count of another organism was found at explanation.

CONCLUSIONS

While Staph. epidermidis can cause prosthesis infection, low colony counts of the organism may not be associated with clinical infection. Therefore, the high incidence of infection attributed to this organism may be overestimated.