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Microbial growth in saline breast implants and saline tissue expanders
Mitchell H Brown1, Y Michael Markus, Bret Belchetz
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center, Women's College Campus, University of Toronto, 76 Grenville Street, Suite 650, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1B2, Canada. information@torontoplasticsurgery.com
Abstract:
The subject of microbial growth within the saline medium of prosthetic breast implants has been one of great controversy in recent years. Although several articles have described microbial growth within the tissue surrounding implanted breast prostheses, few have attempted to determine the possibility of such contamination of the luminal saline. The authors studied the intraluminal saline medium of a series of explanted breast prostheses with the objective of identifying any microbial contamination. Over a 6-month period, a consecutive series of saline-filled breast implants and tissue expanders were removed from 37 patients. Under the supervision of a microbiologist, saline extracted from each implant was subjected to bacterial and fungal cultures, Gram staining, and acid-fast staining. A total of 24 saline-filled breast implants were removed from 15 patients, and 32 saline-filled tissue expanders were removed from 22 patients. The average length of implantation was 28.1 months for the implants and 7.1 months for the expanders. None of the saline within the implants or expanders within our series displayed any evidence of microbial contamination. These results suggest that microbial contamination of the luminal saline of prosthetic breast implants is an extremely unlikely event.
Insights
Microbial contamination of saline within breast implants is rare. This study found no evidence of bacterial or fungal growth in explanted saline-filled breast implants and tissue expanders.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Microbial growth in breast implant surrounding tissues is documented.
- Contamination of the intraluminal saline in breast prostheses remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for microbial contamination within the saline medium of explanted prosthetic breast implants and tissue expanders.
Main Methods:
- Saline from 24 explanted breast implants and 32 tissue expanders was cultured for bacteria and fungi.
- Gram staining and acid-fast staining were performed on extracted saline.
Main Results:
- No evidence of bacterial or fungal contamination was found in the intraluminal saline of any explanted devices.
- The average implantation period was 28.1 months for implants and 7.1 months for expanders.
Conclusions:
- Microbial contamination of the luminal saline in prosthetic breast implants is an extremely unlikely event.
- This finding suggests a low risk of intraluminal infection in saline-filled breast prostheses.