Wound infection in breast augmentation: the role of prophylactic perioperative antibiotics

Infection after augmentation mammoplasty is not common, with the reported incidence between 1% and 7%. The use of prophylactic antibiotics, however, is widespread in plastic surgery: It was documented in a 1975 survey in which 43% of responding plastic surgeons used prophylactic antibiotics. Fifteen years since this survey, surgeons have witnessed an explosion in antibiotic variety and have participated in their increased use. For many procedures, the use of antibacterials has evolved by convention and personal preference, based often on only anecdotal information. This report is our study of the routine use of antibiotics to prevent wound infection after augmentation mammoplasty.