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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
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|June 5, 2002
Summary
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.