Role of bacterial biofilms in patients after reconstructive and aesthetic breast implant surgery.

[INTRODUCTION] Capsular contracture is a feared complication following both reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. The etiology is uncertain, but bacterial biofilms have been suggested as trigger for chronic peri-implant inflammation, eventually leading to capsular contracture.

[METHODS] Data were extracted from patient records included in a prospective cohort between 2008 and 2010. We compared patients who underwent submuscular breast reconstruction using expander implants and those needing implant removal for capsular contracture after aesthetic submuscular breast augmentation.

[RESULTS] Of 36 included breast implants from 27 patients, 18 implants were inserted for reconstructive reasons and 18 for aesthetic reasons. The median indwelling time was 3 years for aesthetic implants and 3 months for reconstructive expanders. Overall, sonication cultures were positive in 13 implants (36%). In aesthetic implants, sonication cultures were positive in 28% and sonication cultures were positive in expander implants in 44%. Propionibacterium acnes and coagulasenegative staphylococci were predominant.

[CONCLUSION] Sonication cultures were positive in approximately 33% of removed breast implants and were comparable for reconstructive expander and aesthetic implants. These findings support the hypothesis that bacterial biofilms play a role in the pathogenesis of capsular contracture, especially after expander reconstruction, as these implants are at the highest risk of contamination during repeated implant-filling procedures.