title: Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis not needed for microsurgical varicocelectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although systemic antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended for class I (clean) cases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, they are often used for varicocelectomy. This study was designed to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary for varicocelectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective review of 278 patients who had undergone microsurgical varicocelectomy. No antibiotics were used. All patients were seen within 4 weeks of surgery and evaluated for signs of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 2 patients developed culture-positive infection. Five additional patients had signs of infection as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study have shown that antibiotic prophylaxis is not warranted for patients undergoing varicocelectomy.
authors.affiliation: Sol and Margaret Berger Department of Urology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Ingride
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Harris M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nagler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*