DOES CIRCUMCISION ALTER THE PERIURETHRAL BACTERIAL-FLORA

A prospective study of 25 boys who underwent circumcision for medical reason was performed. Specimens of periurethral bacterial flora were t aken before operation as well as 3 weeks after surgery, so that each b oy acted as his own control. Before circumcision, 13 (52%) harboured u ropathogenic organisms (Escherichia coli and other coliforms, Enteroco ccus spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, and Klebsiella spp); after cir cumcision, none of the boys had uropathogens, the only organisms cultu red from the periurethral region being skin commensals. We postulate t hat circumcision converts a 'cul-de-sac' that is a reservoir of organi sms capable of causing ascending urinary tract infection into a surfac e colonised by natural skin organisms. This study provides circumstant ial evidence supporting the idea that circumcision in well-selected pa tients may confer protection from urine infection.