Microbiological investigations on cryopreserved human semen

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Abstract
Primary mycological contamination was studied in 565 random human ejaculates. After sperm preservation at low temperature, secondary mycological contamination of 55 of the ejaculates was investigated. Ejaculates (25) were cryopreserved with and without antibiotics and examined bacteriologically before and after different phases of cryopreservation. Semen samples of several donors were inoculated with suspensions of different concentrations of yeasts and with the test bacteria Escherichia coli K 12 and Staphylococcus aureus SG 511. Microbiological results were then compared before and after cryopreservation. Of samples, 9.8% showed primary mycological contamination (1.9% with Candida albicans). Cryopreservation reduced the concentration of fungi by > 90% on average. Only 1 semen sample was contaminated with bacteria (hemolytic S. aureus and nonhemolytic Streptococcus). Nonpathogenic bacteria were found in 11 ejaculates (Micrococcus luteus in 5 samples and S. epidermidis in 6 samples); contamination was largely unaffected by cryopreservation, even in the presence of antibiotics. Test bacteria inoculated into semen were not influenced by the addition of antibiotics to the cryoprotective medium.