Penile skin microbiota / microbiome in healthy men and some diseases

Abstract

The study of the cutaneous microbiota/microbiome of the male genital is relevant not only to understand "normality" for this biotope but also to correctly interpret the results obtained from patients with infectious-inflammatory diseases or postoperative infectious-inflammatory complications of penile skin. The study aimed to generalize and critically analyze data on microbial contamination of various areas of the penile skin by conducting a systematic review of publications. The search led to the selection of eight articles published in 2011 ­– 2023 that investigated the microbiota / microbiome features of the penile skin in health and some diseases. Thus, in sexually active healthy men, the penile skin microbiota / microbiome partly reflects the vaginal microbiome of sexual partners. After unprotected sexual contact, the frequency of detection and the number of Lactobacillus increase in the penile skin microbiota. In general, Corynebacteriaceae dominate on the penile skin, while Prevotellaceae, nc Clostridiales, Porphyromonadaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, Anaerococcus are less frequently recorded. Circumcision has a significant effect on the bacterial diversity of the penile skin. Although data regarding the penile skin microbiota/microbiome in various diseases are scarce, certain interactions have been noted. Thus, in healthy sexually active male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis, the number of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis increases and Corynebacterium decreases. In HIV-positive men, Staphylococcus, Faecalibacterium, Strenotrophominas, Jonquetella, Ruminococcus, Roseburia, Pseudochrobactrum and Lamia predominate on the penis skin. It is also noted that circumcision reduces the risk of HPV and HIV infections. Knowledge of not only the bacterial, but also fungal diversity of the penile skin microbiota is of great clinical importance, because conditionally pathogenic yeast-like fungi under certain conditions can cause a few diseases. Thus, this review analyses the microbial composition of penile skin in normal and some diseases, revealing a great gap in current knowledge of penile skin microbial assemblages. Studies are needed to better understand the microbial composition of normal penile skin and its impact on the results of reconstructive and plastic surgeries using penile skin.

Keywords

• microbiota
• microbiome
• penis
• healthy men
• penile skin diseases
• bacterial vaginosis
• balanoposthitis
• human papillomavirus
• human immunodeficiency virus