Since the introduction of inflatable penile prostheses (IPPs), risk of infection has decreased. However, concurrent substance abuse has not been investigated in prosthetic urology.

To determine whether substance abuse would stand out as a relevant risk factor for infection in patients undergoing IPP implantation.

This retrospective study was conducted on charts from the past 12 years at our institution, where a single surgeon completed 602 primary IPP surgeries, with only 12 cases (2%) resulting in postoperative infection. Five of these patients (42%) were actively misusing at least one substance at the time of operation (ie, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, other illicit substances, and prescription narcotics). Substance abuse was identified in the medical chart by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code or by clear documentation by a provider. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the probability of infection as a function of demographic, physical, and treatment variables.

Logistic regression analysis was used to determine statistically significant correlations between risk factors and IPP infection.

Polysubstance abuse, poorly controlled blood sugar, and homelessness at the time of procedure positively correlated with postoperative infection. Use of the mummy wrap correlated with decreased infection.

Active polysubstance abuse, poor glycemic control, and homelessness increase infection risk at IPP implantation. We encourage other implanters to discuss active polysubstance abuse with their patients and to tread cautiously because of the increased risk of infection.