Infections

[mouseco]

Guys,Guys,Guy,
Several days ago I started this thread with the hopes that some brothers would post their experiences with infections encountered after implant. I thought that this imformation would be helpful to many even though the infection rate is very low. In the last year I have not seen very many threads on the subject.
Unfortunately, it seems that the thread has become a hissing contest. That certainly was not my intention.
The subject of infections must be on people's mind, as I have noticed a rather large amount of views of this thread on the subject. I don't believe these brothers are viewing to be a part of the conflict that the thread has become.
At this time I respectfully request that the thread return to topic. If this can not be accomplished I will look at my options to remove this most important thread.
Mouseco

[Larry10625]

Things posted here are everybody's business, and that includes mine. It's not at all unusual for someone to disagree publicly on FT. It's done all the time. Navy officers are no better than anybody else, and worse than many, contrary to what you may have been taught in 90-day wonder school.

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? I'll bet your Commanding Officer doesn't tolerate language like that... or maybe he does, since he's also a Naval officer. We enlisted men don't talk like that in public.

OK, I'm done here. You've made a nearly perfect ass of yourself, and as I said earlier, Lost Sheep comes out the gentleman here.

Sure you're done here.. because when you are wrong, you tend to run out of things to say. I guess you win because unlike you, I'm only "almost a perfect ass. Disagreeing is one thing what happened here is different. Why do you continue to yap off about this when LostSheep and I have put it aside and have moved on? I'm not speaking to you anymore about this, you're simply not worth my time and energy.

[Larry10625]

Guys,Guys,Guy,
Several days ago I started this thread with the hopes that some brothers would post their experiences with infections encountered after implant. I thought that this imformation would be helpful to many even though the infection rate is very low. In the last year I have not seen very many threads on the subject.
Unfortunately, it seems that the thread has become a hissing contest. That certainly was not my intention.
The subject of infections must be on people's mind, as I have noticed a rather large amount of views of this thread on the subject. I don't believe these brothers are viewing to be a part of the conflict that the thread has become.
At this time I respectfully request that the thread return to topic. If this can not be accomplished I will look at my options to remove this most important thread.
Mouseco

Agreed 100%. My answer to you regarding urine not being sterile is just one possible reason for infection and another good one is the fact that the crotch is a perfect breeding ground. I actually a little surprised some doctors are saying it's rare... my surgeon told me to be very careful to keep the area clean, infection would most likely result in the implant removal... he didn't say high rate, but he didn't say rare either.

[Lost Sheep]

At this time I respectfully request that the thread return to topic. If this can not be accomplished I will look at my options to remove this most important thread.
Mouseco

I ran across a few articles in my reading and found this one again. It describes bacterial infestations found when implants were removed for NON-INFECTION-RELATED reasons. That is, bacteria infecting the implant but contained, asymptomatic and not causing any clinical problems.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5117975/

With my limited medical knowledge, I cannot be sure, but it appears that urine contamination was not cited as the source of the infection in any of the cases. The authors state, "Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common cultured organism from uninfected (clinically presenting - my addition) penile prostheses during revisions."

It might be worthwhile to note that infection of the implant, reservoir or pump, being buried, presents different questions than infection of the incision(s) on the skin. There is little a patient can do about the deep infections, but the wound/incision prophylaxis is entirely under the patient's control.

[Larry10625]

At this time I respectfully request that the thread return to topic. If this can not be accomplished I will look at my options to remove this most important thread.
Mouseco

I ran across a few articles in my reading and found this one again. It describes bacterial infestations found when implants were removed for NON-INFECTION-RELATED reasons. That is, bacteria infecting the implant but contained, asymptomatic and not causing any clinical problems.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5117975/

With my limited medical knowledge, I cannot be sure, but it appears that urine contamination was not cited as the source of the infection in any of the cases. The authors state, "Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common cultured organism from uninfected (clinically presenting - my addition) penile prostheses during revisions."

It might be worthwhile to note that infection of the implant, reservoir or pump, being buried, presents different questions than infection of the incision(s) on the skin. There is little a patient can do about the deep infections, but the wound/incision prophylaxis is entirely under the patient's control.

Yeah, so what I was saying is that the crotch area is a breeding ground for bacteria. Dark, moist areas with foreign objects being placed inside and the there's the dressings.. are they being changed regularly enough, and finally urine dripping on it. I always pat dry with TP when I have incisions down there, but I guess the last time I was unsuccessful. The surgeon who placed the implant said no to Epsom salts sits baths and yet, the local doctor who was looking after the post op care was saying to do it... so which one do you listen to? I listened to the surgeon, although the 5 previous surgeries I did and I healed quickly with no complications. I wish I had the answers, but until I do, I will just keep listening to the highest medical authority and praying I don't get any more infection.

[Bubba48]

First of all I have to put in my thoughts.

I'm a active duty officer that started from E1-O5. It makes me sad and very disappointed to see a bunch of prior service guys calling each other out. This is unstat, period. Please use direct message.

This board is not for your egos it's for information. Please be civil and everyone be a gentlemen period. Always take the high road as we know so many look here for advice and guidance. Many people on here are on the edge and need positive support and not negative support ever.

I got ED from a bad anthrax shot in 2002 going to Afghanistan. This board, Dr. Kramer and family support changed my life. It all started with this board!

Realize we are all here to support each other.

[TANGERINE]

There is another good paper on the issue of implant infections. It identifies that 75% of infections are due to contamination from the skin at the time of surgery.

Here is an important excerpt from that paper:

"....Organisms that reside on skin.....have historically caused 75% of infections. Recently, it has become evident that the infection-retardant coatings substantially reduce these relatively mildly symptomatic, late-appearing infections. ......

.....If we believe that the infection-retardant coatings of the implants are markedly reducing infection, we must then focus on eliminating potential breaks in surgical technique that allow contamination with the more virulent organisms. This paper describes our results with a surgical technique enhancement that features IPP implantation without the surgeon, the instruments, or the device having contact with the patient’s skin. We call this the “no touch” technique......"


You can read the entire paper at:
https://www.urologicalcare.com/upload/iblock/aa8/Coated-Implants-Article(1).pdf

REFERENCE:
Coated Implants and “No Touch” Surgical Technique Decreases Risk of Infection in Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Implantation to 0.46%
Eid, J. Francois et al.
Urology , Volume 79 , Issue 6 , 1310 - 1316

[David_R]

[deleted]

[Larry10625]

There is another good paper on the issue of implant infections. It identifies that 75% of infections are due to contamination from the skin at the time of surgery.

Here is an important excerpt from that paper:

"....Organisms that reside on skin.....have historically caused 75% of infections. Recently, it has become evident that the infection-retardant coatings substantially reduce these relatively mildly symptomatic, late-appearing infections. ......

.....If we believe that the infection-retardant coatings of the implants are markedly reducing infection, we must then focus on eliminating potential breaks in surgical technique that allow contamination with the more virulent organisms. This paper describes our results with a surgical technique enhancement that features IPP implantation without the surgeon, the instruments, or the device having contact with the patient’s skin. We call this the “no touch” technique......"


You can read the entire paper at:
https://www.urologicalcare.com/upload/iblock/aa8/Coated-Implants-Article(1).pdf

REFERENCE:
Coated Implants and “No Touch” Surgical Technique Decreases Risk of Infection in Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Implantation to 0.46%
Eid, J. Francois et al.
Urology , Volume 79 , Issue 6 , 1310 - 1316

There is lots of science based evidence to support what you are saying. When I had my heart attack, the night before my triple bypass surgery the nurse brought me this bottle of body wash and told me to shower using this stuff top to bottom. The next morning, just before the surgery, another nurse brought me another bottle with the same instructions. I was told it was an antibacterial wash. I never had any problems with my zipper, other than it hurt like hell.

[Cnidium]

What I think influences infection,

Age, state of immune system, health, diet, surgical technique.

The only thing that is absolutely out of your hands is age.

Although state of immune system, health, diet are all intertwined and age affects 2 of these, you can do so much good for yourself to get these 3 things maximized.

And you can you do yourself an amazing favor by going with a surgeon who uses the no-touch technique, as others have stated in this thread.

I believe if you go into this surgery without all of these things in check (minus age), then you need to be prepared for the possibility of infection (although minor).

Show me one instance of a young male (under 40), with a resilient immune system, near perfect health markers, and a quality diet who has had an implant infection from a surgeon using the no-touch technique. One might exist, but you get my point.

It seems like most cases of infection stated in literature share something in common: something like smoking, diabetes, overweight, alcohol consumption, compromised immune system, and age... usually with one or more of these things combined.

I think its the patients responsibility to do everything they can to minimize infection. You know what you need to do.