MP58-17 PREVALENCE OF POSITIVE SEMEN CULTURES OF SPERM BANKED SPECIMENS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Semen culture is routinely obtained prior to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and efforts to treat positive cultures are important to optimize success. Leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia′s influence on semen and fertility is widely debated. Currently no guidelines on the role of semen culture before sperm cryopreservation exists. Survival of bacteria after cryopreservation has been reported in the literature. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of positive semen cultures and define the role of culture prior to cryopreservation. METHODS: Retrospective review was conducted on men with cryopreserved specimens over a 10 month period. Genital Benzalkonium chloride wipe was added to standard hand washing protocol after 8 months. An incubating solution containing Gentamicin for cryopreservation was used. Demographics, semen parameters, and semen culture results with organisms and antibiotic sensitivity were recorded. RESULTS: 63 men provided ejaculated semen for cryopreservation. Mean age was 30.5±10.4 years. 33 men cryopreserved because of malignancy, 14 for sub-fertility, 7 were transgender, and 9 were for other reasons. 36 men (57.1%) had positive semen cultures and 27 men (42.9%) had negative cultures. Potential pathogenic bacteria were found in 25 men (69.4%) with positive culture; enterococcus (8) and β-hemolytic streptococcus (7) were most common. 16 men (44%) had non-pathogenic bacteria, coagulase negative staph (13) was most common. 17 men had bacteria not sensitive or not tested against Gentamicin, 25 men had Gentamicin sensitive bacteria. After institution of genital wipes, 9 out of 20 men (45%) had positive culture. 43 men provided a sample prior to addition of the genital wipe, and 27 men (62.8%) had a positive culture. No differences were found with culture positivity before or after use of genital wipes, p>0.05. No differences were found when comparing semen parameters and leukocytes between positive and negative semen cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Greater than 50% of men cryopreserving semen had positive cultures with over 69% harboring a potentially pathogenic organism, many of which are not sensitive to Gentamicin. Semen parameters and seminal leukocyte presence were not indicative of culture positivity. The institution of a hand washing protocol did not change the frequency of positive cultures. Work is needed to assess the survivability of bacteria after thawing and evaluation of the effect of culture positivity on IVF. Source of Funding: None