Penile implant infection prevention part II: device coatings have changed the game

Abstract

The single most important factor in the reduction of penile implant infections has been the infection retardant coatings. Virtually every inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) sold for the last 15 years in America has been coated and the device infection rate has dropped over 50% to less than 1% in experienced implanter practices. The vast majority of penile implants are contaminated with bacteria at time of surgery and the bacteria live within the implant spaces in a quiescent fashion protected by a biofilm secreted by the organisms that makes them impermeable to antibiotics or the body’s defense mechanisms. Only very rarely do the bacteria cause a clinical infection. Medicine has no clue why this atypically happens. There are new recommendations for systemic prophylactic antibiotics—a testimonial to the changing face of the bacteria causing device infection. New washout solutions are being utilized and new salvage guidelines are being studied.