Infectious Complications of Circumcision

Abstract

Abstract Although uncommon, local, systemic and toxin-related infectious complications of circumcision represent a significant clinical problem. In general, untrained providers create more infectious and noninfectious complications when performing male circumcision than well-trained providers, regardless of whether they are physicians, nurses or traditional religious providers. Local infections include staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, cellulitis, impetigo, pyoderma, necrotizing fasciitis, scalded skin syndrome (staphylococcal), Fournier gangrene, glanular necrosis, scrotal abscess and even peritonitis. Systemic infectious complications include bacteraemia, meningitis, pneumonia or septicaemia, and rare incidence of tuberculosis and diphtheria had been reported, but the frequency of reporting such cases had declined.