Microbiological contamination in IVF laboratories: A narrative review

Abstract

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most used assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques today. However, the success of IVF procedures heavily relies on maintaining a sterile environment in laboratories. This narrative review examines the effects of microbiological contamination in IVF laboratories, exploring its sources, impacts on IVF outcomes, and preventive measures. We conducted a complete literature search using databases such as PubMed and, focusing on studies published within the last fifteen years. Our findings highlight that microbiological contamination can significantly impair embryo quality, reduce implantation and pregnancy rates, and increase the risk of miscarriage and infection. The review also discusses current best practices for contamination prevention and identifies areas for future research. This work emphasizes the critical importance of stringent sterility protocols in IVF laboratories and calls for continued vigilance and innovation in maintaining optimal conditions for assisted reproduction.

Keywords

In vitro fertilization / Assisted reproductive technologies / Microbial contamination / Embryonic arrest / Infertility

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Funding

The study receives no extramural funding.

Authors’ contributions

Sudheer Singh contributed to the conception or design of the work, drafting of the work, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed on all aspects of the work. Nancy Nair contributed to the literature review, revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to all aspects of the work. Akash More contributed to the literature review, revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to all aspects of the work. Neeraj Vishwakarma contributed to the review and revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, offering a lot of feedback and revision to make it rich in intellectual content. Avanti Kalbande was quite instrumental in the review, as he handled the statistical analysis by organizing, and interpreting data through advanced methods. Her work was ensuring the accuracy and clarity of the results to make the review credible and impactful.

Publisher’s Note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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