[Penile prostheses and infection].

Infection of penile prostheses, estimated to occur in 3% of cases, represent the major complication of this type of prosthesis. Early sepsis occurs during the first week and presents in the form of frank clinical features (pain, erythema, penile discharge); highly virulent bacteria are isolated, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Late sepsis occurs after an interval of several weeks to several months with less specific clinical features; Staphylococcus epidermidis is isolated in more than 50% of cases. Conventional treatment of these infections consists of antibiotics adapted to the local flora and removal of the prosthesis, sometimes followed by deferred reimplantation. Prosthetic material salvage procedures are now proposed. Patient-related risk factors for infection include diabetes, urinary tract infection and immunodepression, while procedure-related risk factors include the length of hospital stay, poor operative technique, prolonged operating time and iatrogenic urethral injuries. Prevention of sepsis of penile prostheses is based on prevention of these risk factors and prophylactic antibiotics or prolonged antibiotic therapy.