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Semen from asymptomatic men who are being evaluated as male partners in interfile couples have been reported to contain a variety of bacteria. Longitudinal studies of the variation of these bacteria over time and their resistance patterns have not been commonly reported. At our institution, residues from semen samples are routinely evaluated for bacteria, including antibiotic sensitivity profiles. We set out to profile the changes in semen bacteria and antibiotic resistance at our institution over time. A total of 72 semen isolates were examined for type of bacteria and sensitivity to a panel of antibiotics. The results were divided into two separate 5-year intervals (the first beginning in 2006, the second in 2011) and compared. The majority of bacteria were skin flora, with Streptococcus and Staphylococcus being the most prevalent. The resistance data for these two pathogens showed minimal statistically significant difference between the two time periods, although the Staphylococcus species did show a trend toward increasing resistance, suggesting that antibiotics currently used in sperm cell preparations may need to be varied.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an acquired multiorgan connective tissue disease with variable mortality and morbidity dictated by clinical subset type. The etiology of the basic disease and pathogenesis of the systemic autoimmunity, fibrosis, and fibroproliferative vasculopathy are unknown and debated. In this review, the spectrum of vascular abnormalities and the options currently available to treat the vascular manifestations of SSc are discussed. Also discussed is how the hallmark pathologies (ie, how autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and fibrosis of the disease) might be effected and interconnected with modulatory input from lysophospholipids, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and lysophosphatidic acid.