title: Characteristics of infections in patients undergoing staged implantation for sacral nerve stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review clinical and surgical factors in patients who have undergone staged sacral nerve stimulator implantation and to determine whether there are any identifiable risk factors for infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed on 76 consecutive patients undergoing staged implantation for sacral nerve stimulation for voiding dysfunction. Patients with postprocedural wound infections (after Stage 1 or Stage 2) were compared with those without infections with regard to demographic factors and surgical characteristics, such as operative time and duration of exposed lead wire. Organisms cultured were also documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lead infection occurred in 9 of 76 patients (12%). All cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Of 9 patients with lead infection, 6 had organisms sensitive to their perioperative antibiotic. Forty-five patients had an implantable pulse generator implanted, and 5 infections occurred (11%). Four cultures grew S. aureus (all sensitive to the perioperative antibiotic given), whereas one grew Pseudomonas. The only significant difference in clinical/surgical characteristics between infected and noninfected patients was a longer operative time for Stage 2 in infected patients. In addition, 3 patients with infection had one or more known risk factors for wound infection (steroid use, severe psoriasis, recurrent skin abscess).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apart from known risk factors for surgical wound infections, the only variable we could identify that might increase the risk for infection is a longer operative time for Stage 2. S. aureus was the organism most commonly cultured. Often it was sensitive to the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. mguralni@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Guralnick
authors.forename: Saraleen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benouni
authors.forename: R Corey
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edmiston
mesh_terms: D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012447:Sacrum / Q000294:innervation*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000601:surgery*