Effect of Preputial Type on Bacterial Colonization and Wound Healing in Boys Undergoing Circumcision

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated the effect of preputial type on bacterial colonization and wound healing in boys undergoing circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consisted of 78 boys consecutively admitted to our clinic for circumcision between 2009 and 2011. Preputial status was classified into five types on the basis of preputial retractability. One sterile culture swab was swept circumferentially once around the surface of the glans starting just proximal to the urethral meatus. Three weeks following circumcision, control swabs from the same regions of the same patients were taken and inoculated. Thus, the same patients formed the control group. Patients were evaluated on days 1 and 7 after the operation to assess whether the preputial type affected healing. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 46.3 months. In our study, the growth rate was 71.8% in pre-circumcision patients, whereas the rate was 10.25% in the post-circumcision group. Types 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 had 100%, 93.8%, 71.4%, 44.4%, and 53.6% colonization, respectively. A significant difference was observed among these types in terms of colonization. The most common agent was Enterococcus species (33%). When postoperative patients were evaluated, all had local swelling and hyperemia on postoperative day 1, whereas there was a significant difference on day 7. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant correlation between preputial type and bacterial colonization, and the preputial type affected post-circumcision wound healing. Practitioners should keep in mind that the healing period will be longer in patients with type 1, 2, and 3 preputium.