title: Processing of semen in an antibiotic-rich culture medium to minimize microbial presence during in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and determine the prevalence of microorganisms in preprocessed and postprocessed semen in an IVF-ET program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four men undergoing preprogram evaluation, each producing two semen samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen processing with a wash and swim-up technique in a penicillin- and streptomycin-rich medium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The identity and prevalence of seminal microorganisms before and after processing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three percent of individual unprocessed semen samples grew microorganisms, the majority of which were nonpathogenic. Thirty-three men (44.6%) had microbes identified in repeat samples, four had identical organisms each time. Twenty (27%) had positive cultures in one sample, negative in the other. Twenty-one (28.4%) had consistently sterile semen. After seminal processing, the recovery rate for microbes was 5%. Microbial presence after processing did not correlate with either the sperm swim-up concentration or the initial microbial concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacteriospermia is common. The microorganisms found rarely are replicated and most likely represent contamination. Wash and swim-up semen preparation in an antibiotic rich culture medium effectively eliminates 95% of organisms.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cottell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McMorrow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barry-Kinsella
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003470:Culture Media; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media