Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada
Risk of post-vasectomy infection using non-sterile gloves A retrospective audit of 4785 office-based procedures
By Bercier JP, Dumais V, Trottier D and 2 others.
Abstract
Introduction
The use of sterile gloves in minor outpatient procedures, including vasectomy, remains debated. Performing vasectomies without sterile gloves may lower costs, shorten operative time, and reduce medical waste-important factors for efficiency and sustainability in high-volume practices. We evaluated the risk of post-vasectomy infection in a large cohort of patients who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy performed without sterile gloves.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of all vasectomies performed by four physicians using non-sterile gloves from January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, across four Canadian outpatient clinics. Infection was defined as an antibiotic prescription within 30 days post-vasectomy recorded in the electronic medical record. We also assessed the effect of attending physician, use of skin glue for wound closure, and appointment duration. Differences were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, with Bonferroni-corrected significance set at p<0.017.