Simone Palini, Mariangela Primiterra, Silvia De Stefani, Maria Federica Pedna, Monica Sparacino, Patrizia Farabegoli, Serena Benedetti, Carlo Buletti, Vittorio Sambri
JBRA Assist. Reprod. 2016; 20 (3):94-98
Received March 23, 2016
Accepted July 15, 2016
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the levels of microbial contamination in semen samples before and after the micro swim-up (MSU) procedure in intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The new method is an upgrade to the classic wash swim-up procedure.
Methods: Semen analysis and microbiological tests were carried out before and after the MSU procedure. A total of twenty semen samples were analyzed.
Results: Pathogens were observed in semen sambles only before MSU and never after ICSI. Microbiological tests revealed a large prevalence of gram-positive cocci [Staphylococcus spp. (n=16, 80%) and viridans streptococci (n=10, 50%)]. The results of this study indicate that direct MSU in ICSI improved the ICSI workflow.
Conclusion: The new workflow is faster and more affordable, and is likely to prevent infection problems that could arise from the normal microbial flora of the semen.
