Recurrent Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Bacitracin Used in Pocket Irrigation During Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that presents as a pruritic eczematous rash occurring 24 to 48 h after allergen exposure. It is a surgical complication that can impact people's quality of life after plastic surgeries. A 44-year-old female with right breast cancer presented with three recurrent episodes of severe pruritic cutaneous eczematous eruption over her right breast extending down to her trunk and vulva each time soon after her multiple breast surgeries. She was labeled as having allergies to several intravenous antibiotics received perioperatively. She was then patch tested with a positive reaction to bacitracin, a component of a modified double antibiotic solution used for pocket irrigation intraoperatively. It highlights the need for plastic surgeons to consider ACD to bacitracin in patients with dermatitis soon after having bacitracin for pocket irrigation or implant soaking during breast surgeries. Comprehensive patch testing can delineate the cause of surgery-related ACD.