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Comment on: does time of intraoperative exposure to the aerobiome increase microbial growth on inflatable penile prostheses?

International Journal of Impotence Research (2024)Cite this article

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Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) infection is a devastating complication for both patients and surgeons. Substantial literature exists regarding infection risk factors, prevention techniques, and management. Multiple patient-dependent, device-dependent, and surgeon-dependent IPP infection risk factors have been established over the last five decades. To date no prosthetic urology studies have examined whether infections appear out of thin air.

Madhusoodanan et al. investigated whether IPP exposure to ambient operating room air (the aerobiome) contributes to infection risk due to increased device microbial contamination [1]. An ex vivo study was performed in the operating room (OR) by sterilely swabbing IPP components every 30 min for 3 h. These samples were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next generation sequencing (NGS). Swabs of unprepped scrotal skin during in-office vasectomies were used as controls. No microbial growth was detected on any of the device swabs while exposed to air in the operating room. The authors concluded that increased exposure to OR air does not increase the risk of microbial device contamination, which they argue is contrary to the conventional wisdom.

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Fig. 1: The Scott Surgical Isolation Bubble System (SIBS).

References

  1. Madhusoodanan V, Arbelaez MCS, Evans A, Raymo A, Ghomeshi A, Hernandez B, et al. Does time of intraoperative exposure to the aerobiome increase microbial growth on inflatable penile prostheses? Int J Impotence Res. 2024;21. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00906-6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Britney L. Atwater & Martin S. Gross

  2. Institute for Urologic Excellence, La Quinta, CA, USA

    Steven K. Wilson

Authors
  1. Britney L. Atwater
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  2. Martin S. Gross
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  3. Steven K. Wilson
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Contributions

All authors (BLA, MSG, SKW) have made substantial contributions to this work. All authors (BLA, MSG, SKW) were involved in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work, and all contributed to drafting the manuscript and revised it critically for important intellectual content including final approval of the version to be published. All authors (BLA, MSG, SKW) agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Martin S. Gross.

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Competing interests

SKW is a consultant for Rigicon. All other authors have nothing to disclose related to this article.

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Atwater, B.L., Gross, M.S. & Wilson, S.K. Comment on: does time of intraoperative exposure to the aerobiome increase microbial growth on inflatable penile prostheses?. Int J Impot Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00909-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00909-3

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