Is antibiotic prophylaxis in breast augmentation necessary? A prospective study

The role of prophylactic antibiotics in breast augmentation remains controversial. However, the majority of surgeons are administering antibiotics.

To investigate the effect of antibiotic(s) use in the incidence of infection and capsular contracture following breast augmentation.

From September 2004 to November 2010, 180 patients underwent primary bilateral breast augmentation. They were prospectively divided into two equal groups: in group A (n=90), no antibiotics were given and, in group B (n=90), only one intravenous dose of cephalosporin was administered during the induction of general anesthesia. Preoperative data included age, body mass index, smoking status, medical history and implant volume. All operations were performed by the same surgeon using the same surgical technique and implant type. No drains were used. Operative data included operative time and estimated blood loss. Patients were evaluated for complications such as infection, hematoma and capsular contracture. The study concluded when all of the patients underwent the one-year follow-up. The Student's t test was used to analyze the results.

All patients completed the study and both groups had similar demographic data. No differences in operative data were observed. The mean operative time was 35 min and the mean blood loss was found to be minimal. In group A, no implant infections were reported, while a wound infection that occurred was treated successfully with oral antibiotics. In group B, no implant or wound infection was noticed. No capsular contractures or hematomas were observed.

The number of patients who underwent primary breast augmentation without antibiotics (n=90) was insufficient to draw any definitive conclusions. However, the present prospective study demonstrated that prophylactic use of antibiotics in breast augmentation had no significant effect on infection and capsular contracture rates. Further randomized clinical trials, in combination with guidelines from aesthetic plastic surgery societies, appear to be warranted.