Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices
ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the risk of post-vasectomy infections in various settings and across various surgical techniques and sanitization practices. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of the records of 133,044 vasectomized patients from four large practices/network of practices us...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia
2023-08-01
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| Series: | International Brazilian Journal of Urology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382023000400490&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797743268707958784 |
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| author | Samuel Lawton Alison Hoover Gareth James Simon Snook Diana Soraya Torres Quiroz Michel Labrecque |
| author_facet | Samuel Lawton Alison Hoover Gareth James Simon Snook Diana Soraya Torres Quiroz Michel Labrecque |
| author_sort | Samuel Lawton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the risk of post-vasectomy infections in various settings and across various surgical techniques and sanitization practices. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of the records of 133,044 vasectomized patients from four large practices/network of practices using the no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) technique in Canada (2011-2021), Colombia (2015-2020), New Zealand (2018-2021), and the United Kingdom (2006-2019). We defined infection as any mention in medical records of any antibiotics prescribed for a genital or urinary condition following vasectomy. Results: Post-vasectomy infection risks were 0.8% (219 infections/26,809 procedures), 2.1% (390/18,490), 1.0% (100/10,506), and 1.3% (1,007/77,239) in Canada, Colombia, New Zealand, and the UK, respectively. Audit period comparison suggests a limited effect on the risk of infection of excising a short vas segment, applying topical antibiotic on scrotal opening, wearing a surgical mask in Canada, type of skin disinfectant, and use of non-sterile gloves in New Zealand. Risk of infection was lower in Colombia when mucosal cautery and fascial interposition [FI] were used for vas occlusion compared to ligation, excision, and FI (0.9% vs. 2.1%, p<0.00001). Low level of infection certainty in 56% to 60% of patients who received antibiotics indicates that the true risk might be overestimated. Lack of information in medical records and patients not consulting their vasectomy providers might have led to underestimation of the risk. Conclusion: Risk of infection after vasectomy is low, about 1%, among international high-volume vasectomy practices performing NSV and various occlusion techniques. Apart from vasectomy occlusion technique, no other factor modified the risk of post-vasectomy infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:53:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c749fe29623c4e8ea2d5fe379dda70bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1677-6119 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:53:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Brazilian Journal of Urology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c749fe29623c4e8ea2d5fe379dda70bb2023-08-15T07:50:11ZengSociedade Brasileira de UrologiaInternational Brazilian Journal of Urology1677-61192023-08-0149449050010.1590/s1677-5538.ibju.2023.0143Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practicesSamuel Lawtonhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-8118-9733Alison HooverGareth JamesSimon SnookDiana Soraya Torres QuirozMichel LabrecqueABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the risk of post-vasectomy infections in various settings and across various surgical techniques and sanitization practices. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of the records of 133,044 vasectomized patients from four large practices/network of practices using the no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) technique in Canada (2011-2021), Colombia (2015-2020), New Zealand (2018-2021), and the United Kingdom (2006-2019). We defined infection as any mention in medical records of any antibiotics prescribed for a genital or urinary condition following vasectomy. Results: Post-vasectomy infection risks were 0.8% (219 infections/26,809 procedures), 2.1% (390/18,490), 1.0% (100/10,506), and 1.3% (1,007/77,239) in Canada, Colombia, New Zealand, and the UK, respectively. Audit period comparison suggests a limited effect on the risk of infection of excising a short vas segment, applying topical antibiotic on scrotal opening, wearing a surgical mask in Canada, type of skin disinfectant, and use of non-sterile gloves in New Zealand. Risk of infection was lower in Colombia when mucosal cautery and fascial interposition [FI] were used for vas occlusion compared to ligation, excision, and FI (0.9% vs. 2.1%, p<0.00001). Low level of infection certainty in 56% to 60% of patients who received antibiotics indicates that the true risk might be overestimated. Lack of information in medical records and patients not consulting their vasectomy providers might have led to underestimation of the risk. Conclusion: Risk of infection after vasectomy is low, about 1%, among international high-volume vasectomy practices performing NSV and various occlusion techniques. Apart from vasectomy occlusion technique, no other factor modified the risk of post-vasectomy infection.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382023000400490&lng=en&tlng=enVasectomyInfectionsMedical Audit |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Lawton Alison Hoover Gareth James Simon Snook Diana Soraya Torres Quiroz Michel Labrecque Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices International Brazilian Journal of Urology Vasectomy Infections Medical Audit |
| title | Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| title_full | Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| title_fullStr | Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| title_short | Risk of post-vasectomy infections in 133,044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| title_sort | risk of post vasectomy infections in 133 044 vasectomies from four international vasectomy practices |
| topic | Vasectomy Infections Medical Audit |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382023000400490&lng=en&tlng=en |
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