-
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Nov 2022Neisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium found in the respiratory tract, but it can also cause severe, invasive disease. Vaccines have been employed which... (Review)
Review
Neisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium found in the respiratory tract, but it can also cause severe, invasive disease. Vaccines have been employed which have been successful in helping to prevent invasive disease caused by encapsulated N. meningitidis from the A, C, W, Y, and B serogroups. Currently, nonencapsulated N. meningitidis groups are more common commensals in the population than in the prevaccine era. One emerging nonencapsulated group of bacteria is the U.S. N. meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC), which can cause meningococcal urethritis in men. US_NmUC has unique genotypic and phenotypic features that may increase its fitness in the male urethra. It is diagnostically challenging to identify and distinguish meningococcal urethritis from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, as the clinical presentation and microbiological findings are overlapping. In this review, the history of meningococcal urethritis, emergence of US_NmUC, laboratory diagnosis, and clinical treatment are all explored.
Topics: Male; Humans; Urethritis; Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Serogroup; Urethra; Meningococcal Infections
PubMed: 35969045
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00575-22 -
Cell Reports. Medicine Mar 2023The origin, composition, and significance of the distal male urethral microbiome are unclear, but vaginal microbiome dysbiosis is linked to new sex partners and several...
The origin, composition, and significance of the distal male urethral microbiome are unclear, but vaginal microbiome dysbiosis is linked to new sex partners and several urogynecological syndromes. We characterized 110 urethral specimens from men without urethral symptoms, infections, or inflammation using shotgun metagenomics. Most urethral specimens contain characteristic lactic acid bacteria and Corynebacterium spp. In contrast, several bacteria associated with vaginal dysbiosis were present only in specimens from men who reported vaginal intercourse. Sexual behavior, but not other evaluated behavioral, demographic, or clinical variables, strongly associated with inter-specimen variance in urethral microbiome composition. Thus, the male urethra supports a simple core microbiome that is established independent of sexual exposures but can be re-shaped by vaginal sex. Overall, the results suggest that urogenital microbiology and sexual behavior are inexorably intertwined, and show that the male urethra harbors female urogenital pathobionts.
Topics: Sexual Behavior; Urethra; Microbiota; Humans; Male
PubMed: 36948151
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.100981 -
Dermatology Online Journal Jul 2018Intimate body piercings involving the nipple and genitalia have increased in prevalence in both men and women. Despite this increase, there is a deficiency in the... (Review)
Review
Intimate body piercings involving the nipple and genitalia have increased in prevalence in both men and women. Despite this increase, there is a deficiency in the literature regarding the short and long-term complications of body piercings, including an increased risk of infection, malignancy, and structural damage to the associated tissue. Breast abscesses associated with nipple piercing can be mistaken as inflammatory carcinoma. Male genital piercings have been associated with urethral rupture, paraphimosis, urethral obstruction, scar formation, and squamous cell carcinoma, whereas female genital piercings may lead to a higher risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. There are additional problems related to piercings during pregnancy and thereafter. Nipple piercings can hinder breast feeding by inhibiting the milk letdown reflex, increasing nipple sensitivity, and causing discomfort to the infant. Removal of genital piercings during pregnancy could introduce bacteria into the piercing tract, but retaining the piercings could theoretically hinder childbirth. Prevention of complications is critical. Patients must understand the risks of piercings and disclose relevant medical conditions to the practitioner before the procedure. The piercings should be carried out in a hygienic and sterile manner. Finally, physicians should maintain a non-judgmental attitude to encourage patients to seek medical care for complications.
Topics: Body Piercing; Breast Diseases; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Genital Diseases, Male; Genitalia, Female; Humans; Male; Nipples; Penis; Umbilicus
PubMed: 30261561
DOI: No ID Found -
Urologia Internationalis 2020Penile prosthesis implant is a safe and effective option in erectile dysfunction patients, being implant procedures safe with a low risk of infection. However, when...
INTRODUCTION
Penile prosthesis implant is a safe and effective option in erectile dysfunction patients, being implant procedures safe with a low risk of infection. However, when infection occurs, it represents a concrete problem for both surgeon and patient.
METHODS
This is a comprehensive review of all issues relating to prosthesis infection, including causes and risk factors, methods of prevention, and management. We analyzed all preoperative and perioperative factors, which can play a role in infection of the device.
RESULTS
Infection of penile prosthesis implant is hard to manage and correct. While the incidence of infection following first implant is up to 3%, in cases of re-implant surgery, the rate can reach as high as 18%. Many articles were found addressing prevention and treatment of penile prosthesis infection, and many analyzed all relevant pre- and perioperative factors associated with penile prosthesis implant. Although such factors have been well studied, there is no clear consensus worldwide on certain topics.
CONCLUSIONS
Penile prosthesis implant is a safe and effective option. Despite infection is a rare event, surgeons should follow strictly pre-, intra- and postoperative recommendations in order to reduce the risk of device's infection. An appropriate antibiotic therapy should be tailored on patient's characteristics and pathogens isolated.
Topics: Humans; Male; Penile Prosthesis; Prosthesis-Related Infections
PubMed: 32541156
DOI: 10.1159/000508472 -
International Journal of Clinical... Aug 2023Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with 5% of all cancers globally at a range of body sites, including cervix, anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and oropharynx. These... (Review)
Review
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with 5% of all cancers globally at a range of body sites, including cervix, anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and oropharynx. These cancers claim > 400,000 lives annually. The persistent infection of HPV and the function of viral oncogenes are the primary causes of HPV-related cancers. However, only some HPV-infected persons or infected lesions will progress to cancer, and the burden of HPV-associated cancer varies widely according to gender and the part of the body infected. The dissimilarity in infection rates at different sites can explain only a small part of the differences observed. Much responsibility likely sits with contributions of specific epithelial cells and the cellular microenvironment at infected sites to the process of malignant transformation, both of which affect the regulation of viral gene expression and the viral life cycle. By understanding the biology of these epithelial sites, better diagnosis/treatment/management of HPV-associated cancer and/or pre-cancer lesions will be provided.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Human Papillomavirus Viruses; Papillomavirus Infections; Neoplasms; Carcinogenesis; Papillomaviridae; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37199886
DOI: 10.1007/s10147-023-02340-y -
Clinics in Laboratory Medicine Dec 2014Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) primary infection occurs at mucosa tissues, suggesting an intricate interplay between the microbiome and HIV infection. Recent... (Review)
Review
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) primary infection occurs at mucosa tissues, suggesting an intricate interplay between the microbiome and HIV infection. Recent advanced technologies of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics allow researchers to explore nonculturable microbes, including bacteria, virus, and fungi, and their association with diseases. HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with microbiome shifts and immune activation that may affect the outcome of disease progression. In this review, the authors focus on microbiome in HIV infection at various mucosal compartments. Understanding the relationship between microbiome and HIV may offer insights into development of better strategies for HIV prevention and treatment.
Topics: Cervix Uteri; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Lung; Male; Microbiota; Mouth; Penis; Rectum; Vagina
PubMed: 25439273
DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.005 -
Current HIV/AIDS Reports Dec 2022Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a surgical procedure that reduces HIV acquisition risk by almost two-thirds. However, global implementation is lagging, in... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a surgical procedure that reduces HIV acquisition risk by almost two-thirds. However, global implementation is lagging, in part due to VMMC hesitancy. A better understanding of the mechanism(s) by which this procedure protects against HIV may increase acceptance of VMMC as an HIV risk reduction approach among health care providers and their clients.
RECENT FINDINGS
HIV acquisition in the uncircumcised penis occurs preferentially across the inner foreskin tissues, due to increased susceptibility that is linked to elevated inflammatory cytokine levels in the sub-preputial space and an increased tissue density of HIV-susceptible CD4 + T cells. Inflammation can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, but is more commonly induced by specific anaerobic components of the penile microbiome. Circumcision protects by both directly removing the susceptible tissues of the inner foreskin, and by inducing a less inflammatory residual penile microbiome. VMMC reduces HIV susceptibility by removing susceptible penile tissues, and also through impacts on the penile immune and microbial milieu. Understanding these mechanisms may not only increase VMMC acceptability and reinvigorate global VMMC programs, but may also lead to non-surgical HIV prevention approaches focused on penile immunology and/or microbiota.
Topics: Male; Humans; Circumcision, Male; HIV Infections; Foreskin; Penis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
PubMed: 36308579
DOI: 10.1007/s11904-022-00634-w -
The Canadian Journal of Urology Dec 2020
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Male; Postoperative Period; Urethra; Urinary Incontinence; Urinary Sphincter, Artificial
PubMed: 33325345
DOI: No ID Found -
Human Pathology Feb 2018Primary carcinomas of the urethra are rare and poorly understood lesions; hence, their clinical and pathologic spectrum is not completely defined. We analyzed a series...
Primary carcinomas of the urethra are rare and poorly understood lesions; hence, their clinical and pathologic spectrum is not completely defined. We analyzed a series of 130 primary urethral tumors and classified 106 of them as primary urethral carcinomas. The age at diagnosis of patients with primary urethral carcinomas ranged from 42 to 97 years (mean, 69.4 years; median, 70 years). There were 73 male and 33 female patients with a ratio of 2.2:1. In male patients, the tumors most frequently developed in the bulbous-membranous segment of the urethra. In female patients, the entire length of the urethra was typically involved. Microscopically, they were poorly differentiated carcinomas with hybrid squamous and urothelial features and developed from precursor intraepithelial conditions such as dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, which were frequently present in the adjacent urethral mucosa. High-risk human papilloma virus infection could be documented in 31.6% of these tumors. Follow-up information was available for 95 patients. Twenty-three patients died of the disease with a mean and median survival of 39 and 21 months, respectively. Urethral carcinomas are aggressive tumors with a high propensity for regional and distant metastases with mean and median survival of 39 and 21 months, respectively. Our observations have important implications for the management of patients with primary carcinoma of the urethra by defining them as a unique entity linked to human papilloma virus infection.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Urethra; Urethral Neoplasms; Urothelium
PubMed: 28827100
DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2017.08.006 -
Nature Reviews. Urology Jul 2019The discovery of bacteria in the female urinary bladder has fundamentally changed current dogma regarding the urinary tract and related urinary disorders. Previous... (Review)
Review
The discovery of bacteria in the female urinary bladder has fundamentally changed current dogma regarding the urinary tract and related urinary disorders. Previous research characterized many of the bacterial components of the female urinary tract, but the viral fraction of this community is largely unknown. Viruses within the human microbiota far outnumber bacterial cells, with the most abundant viruses being those that infect bacteria (bacteriophages). Similar to observations within the microbiota of the gut and oral cavity, preliminary surveys of the urinary tract and bladder microbiota indicate a rich diversity of uncharacterized bacteriophage (phage) species. Phages are vital members of the microbiota, having critical roles in shaping bacterial metabolism and community structure. Although phages have been discovered in the urinary tract, such as phages that infect Escherichia coli, sampling them is challenging owing to low biomass, possible contamination when using non-invasive methods and the invasiveness of methods that reduce the potential for contamination. Phages could influence bladder health, but an understanding of the association between phage communities, bacterial populations and bladder health is in its infancy. However, evidence suggests that phages can defend the host against pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, modulation of the microbiome using phages has therapeutic potential for lower urinary tract symptoms. Furthermore, as natural predators of bacteria, phages have garnered renewed interest for their use as antimicrobial agents, for instance, in the treatment of urinary tract infections.
Topics: Bacteriophages; Humans; Urethra; Urinary Bladder
PubMed: 31073244
DOI: 10.1038/s41585-019-0192-4