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The human [[foreskin]] has numerous functions that protect against infection.<ref name="cold-taylor1999">{{ColdCJ TaylorJR 1999}}</ref> Infection is a well-known possible complication of circumcision. [[Circumcised]] males have an increased risk of infection due to loss of the protective functions.
==Circumcision infection==
Neonatal [[circumcision]] is an elective, medically-unnecessary, non-therapeutic [[amputation]] of the healthy [[foreskin]] that is done only after parents sign a [[circumcision consent form]]. It exposes an infant to surgical risks, but does not treat or prevent disease.<ref name="deacon2022">{{REFjournal
|DOI=10.1038/s41443-021-00502-y
|accessdate=2022-02-02
}}</ref> Circumcision is a surgical operation and [[amputation]] that creates an open surgical wound on the [[penis]]. [[Rosemary Romberg]] (2021) described infection as a "fairly common complication."<ref name="romberg2021">{{REFbook |last=Romberg |first=Rosemary |init= |author-link=Rosemary Romberg |year=2021 |title=Circumcision — The Painful Dilemma |url=https://circumcisionthepainfuldilemma.wordpress.com/ |work= |editor=[[Ulf Dunkel]] |edition=Second Edition, Revised |volume= |chapter=Infection |scope= |page=266 |pages= |location= |publisher=Kindle |ISBN=23: 979-8683021252 |quote= |accessdate=2023-08-31 |note=}}</ref> The open wound does not heal immediatelyand is exposed to the feces (poop) in the diaper (nappie). For a period of time during and after the surgery it is subject to invasion by a wide variety of bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens.<ref name="williams1993">{{REFjournal
|last=Williams
|first=
}}</ref>
Maternity hospitals gather together newborn infants into a hospital nursery where they are cared for, which increases the risk of passing infection from one to the others. If an infant is compromised by an open surgical wound, then that infant is at greater risk of becoming infected. Male infants in America, where non-therapeutic infant [[circumcision ]] remains popular, are more likely to become infected than female infants. ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a common infection and is worse when a methicillin resistant strain ([https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/index.html MRSA]) is involved. Thompson et al. (1966) reported a higher risk of ''staphylococcus'' infection in newborn [[circumcised ]] males.<ref name="thompson1966">{{REFjournal
|last=Thompson
|first=
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref> Bliss et al. (1997) reported two cases of necrotizing fasciitis after non-therapeutic infant [[circumcision ]] with the Plastibell device. Extensive aggressive debridement of infected necrotic tissue was required.<ref name="bliss1997">{{REFjournal
|last=Bliss
|first=
==Ritual circumcision==
Professor [[L. Emmett Holt]] (1913) reported 41 cases of tuberculosis in ritually [[circumcised ]] boys who had been infected by tubercular [[Mohel| mohels]], of whom 16 had died at the time of writing.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Holt
|init=LE
|url=http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/adc.2008.144063v1
}}</ref>
==Treatment==
The usual treatment of infection is with antibiotics.
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[Jacob Sweet]]
{{LINKS}}
* {{REFweb
{{REF}}
[[Category:TermMedical term]]
[[Category:Circumcision complication]]
[[Category:Parental information]]
[[de:Infektion]]