Chlorhexidine gluconate application, diabetes, revision surgery, and extended operative time increase risk for penile implant infection.

Abstract

Background: Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) (0.05%) has recently been suggested as a dip and irrigation solution at time of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery.

Aim: This study evaluated infection rates before and after implementing CHG protocol while investigating concurrent risk factors contributing to post operative infections.

Methods: A retrospective, consecutive cohort study was performed that included patients who underwent insertion of a Coloplast Titan IPP including both virgin and revision cases between 2021 and 2024. Cases performed from January 2021 to August 2022 utilized rifampin/gentamicin for dip and vancomycin/gentamicin for irrigation (ABX), whereas those from October 2022 to May 2024 utilized CHG for both dip and irrigation. Perioperative risk factors including dip and irrigation solution used at time of surgery were compared between groups.

Outcomes: We defined the incidence of postoperative infection and risk factors associated with infection in each group.

Results: The incidence of infection was significantly higher in the 0.05% CHG group (13/377) compared to the ABX group (0/320) (P < .001). When analyzed separately by subgroup, virgin cases treated with CHG for dip and irrigation demonstrated a significantly higher infection rate (7/315) compared to those in the ABX group (0/280) (P = .012). Similarly, in revision cases, the CHG group also exhibited a significantly higher infection rate (0/40) than the ABX group (6/62) (P = .043).Univariable analysis of the CHG cohort identified three significant risk factors for infection: diabetes mellitus (DM), extended operative time (OP), and revision surgery (P = .003, .001, and < .001, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that patients with DM had a 5.7-fold increased risk of infection (OR: 5.70, P = .004), while those undergoing revision surgery faced a 5.3-fold higher risk (OR: 5.26, P = .004). Additionally, each minute increase in OP was associated with a 1% higher infection risk (OR: 1.01 per minute, P = .007). These associations remained significant after adjusting for all variables in the model.

Clinical implications: Prosthetic surgeons should be cautious about adopting 0.05% CHG for both dip and irrigation in the absence of strong clinical evidence demonstrating its non-inferiority to antibiotic solutions.

Strengths and limitations: This is the first clinical study reporting infection rates after IPP surgery using 0.05% CHG for both dip and irrigation. While retrospective and non-randomized, we present a relatively large sample size of patients.

Conclusions: Our findings identify four risk factors for penile prosthesis infection: usage of the 0.05% CHG solution for dip and irrigation solution of Coloplast hydrophilic-coated devices, DM, revision surgery, and extended OP.