Long-term experience with salvage of infected penile implants

Abstract

Purpose: The effectiveness of treating patients with an infected penile implant by removing the device, cleansing the wound with a series of antiseptic solutions and placing a new device at the same procedure was assessed.

Materials and methods: A total of 65 patients were included in the study. All foreign material was removed from the infected wound followed by copious wound irrigations with a protocol of 7 antibacterial solutions. A new prosthesis was inserted and the patient was placed on antibiotics.

Results: Followup ranged from 6 to 93 months. Recent status was determined in 85% of cases (55 of 65). Of the 55 patients 45 (82%) showed no sign of infection. In 5 patients recurrent infection was documented and in 5 others erosion of parts to the exterior possibly related to infection was noted.

Conclusions: Salvage of an infected penile implant has been successful and is gaining in popularity among urologists to reduce morbidity associated with infection.