Examining the Role of Antimicrobial Irrigation and Capsular Contracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis for reducing capsular contracture in prosthesis-based breast surgery: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Antibiotics Prophylaxis to prevent capsular contracture in prosthesis-based breast surgery is common in clinical practice. However, there is currently a dearth of high-quality evidence concerning the effectiveness of antibiotic usage in this field. To identify all pertinent studies prior to January 2023, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Medline databases. The extracted data was then subjected to meta-analysis. Fourteen studies were retained in the analysis. According to the results, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis did not reduce the risk of capsular contracture (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.82-1.59, p = 0.55) or surgical-site infection (RD 0.01, 95% CI - 0.01 to 0.03, p = 0.59) compared to nonantibiotic prophylaxis. There was no statistically significant difference between extended antibiotic prophylaxis and perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in terms of preventing capsular contracture, whether calculated by patient numbers (RD 0.01, 95% CI - 0.01 to 0.02, p = 0.87) or by total procedures (RD 0.00, 95% CI - 0.00 to 0.01, p = 0.88), or controlling surgical-site infection (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77-1.44, p = 0.27). Additionally, topical antibiotic irrigation did not decrease the risk of infection (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.34-1.08, p = 0.29) and capsular contracture, regardless of patient number (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.27-0.63, p = 0.18) or total number of procedures (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.73-2.28, p < 0.01). Current evidence revealed that both systemic and topical antibiotic prophylaxis may not provide benefits in preventing capsular contracture in prosthesis-based breast surgery. When the occurrence of surgical-site infections is minimized to the greatest extent, the administration of additional antibiotics for reducing capsular contracture should be carefully and judiciously considered.

Outcomes After Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Following the National Institution of a Ban on Bacitracin Irrigation

BACKGROUND

The use of irrigation with bacitracin-containing solution is common among surgeons, as it was widely thought to have antibacterial properties and prevent postoperative infection. Current literature, however, suggests that antibiotic-containing irrigation confers little added benefit. On January 31, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration instituted a ban on bacitracin-containing irrigation for operative use. This study aimed to determine whether bacitracin has a beneficial effect on postoperative infection rates by analyzing infection rates before and after the Food and Drug Administration ban on bacitracin irrigation.

METHODS

A single-institution retrospective chart review was conducted. Eligible patients underwent implant-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy from October 1, 2016, to July 31, 2022. Procedure date, reconstruction type, patient comorbidities, use of bacitracin irrigation, postoperative infection, and secondary outcomes were collected. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 188 female patients were included in the study. Bacitracin use did not protect against infection in univariate or multivariable analysis. Age greater than 50 years was associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection ( P = 0.0366). The presence of comorbidities, smoker status, neoadjuvant therapy treatment before surgery, implant placement, and laterality were all not significantly associated with postoperative infection development.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study demonstrate a lack of association between bacitracin use and postoperative infection. Additional research into the optimal antibiotic for perioperative irrigation is needed, as bacitracin is not encouraged for use.

The Role of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Primary and Secondary Implant-Based Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The administration of antibiotic prophylaxis for implant-based breast augmentation (IBBA) is commonplace among many plastic surgeons. However, the current literature lacks evidence-based recommendations to support this practice. Although few studies have demonstrated a reduction in surgical site infection (SSI) and capsular contracture (CC) with antibiotics, these studies were underpowered and poorly designed. The aim of this study was to provide an updated comprehensive analysis of the literature to revisit the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane was performed from January 1989 to January 2022. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving primary and secondary IBBA and use of antibiotic prophylaxis were included. Primary outcomes included SSI and CC. Study quality and risk of bias were evaluated using standardized tools. A meta-analysis was performed for eligible studies. Trial Sequential Analysis was used to assess the need for future RCTs.

RESULTS

A total of 5 studies (3 observational and 2 RCTs) with 2383 patients were included in this study. Rates of SSI ranged from 0% to 2.3%, whereas CC ranged from 0% to 53%. Antibiotic prophylaxis showed no benefit for both SSI (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-4.13) and CC (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.00-45.72). Trial Sequential Analysis demonstrated that further high-quality RCTs are needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotic prophylaxis for IBBA failed to demonstrate improvements in SSI and CC in this comprehensive review. Current evidence was shown to be of low quality because of heterogeneity and high risk for bias. Further high-quality multicentered RCTs are warranted to fully evaluate the role of antibiotic prophylaxis for IBBA.

Bacitracin for Injection Recall: Impact on Immediate Breast Implant Surgical Outcomes

Background

Triple-antibiotic irrigation of breast implant pockets is a mainstay of infection prophylaxis in breast reconstruction and augmentation. The recall of bacitracin for injection due to risk of anaphylaxis and nephrotoxicity in January 2020, a staple component of the irrigation solution, has raised concern for worsened postoperative sequelae. This study aimed to investigate pre- and post-recall implant-based breast surgery to analyze the impact of bacitracin in irrigation solutions on infection rates.

Methods

All implant-based breast reconstruction or augmentation surgeries from January 2019 to February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. In a regression discontinuity study design, patients were divided into pre- and post-recall groups. Patient demographics, surgical details, and outcomes including infection rates were collected. Differences in complication rates were compared between groups and with surgical and patient factors.

Results

254 implants in 143 patients met inclusion criteria for this study, with 172 implants placed before recall and 82 placed after recall. Patients in each cohort did not differ in age, BMI, smoking status, or history of breast radiation or capsular contracture (p > 0.05). All breast pockets were irrigated with antibiotic solution, most commonly bacitracin, cefazolin, gentamycin, and povidone-iodine before recall (116,67.4%) and cefazolin, gentamycin, and povidone-iodine after recall (59,72.0%). There was no difference in incidence of infection (6.4% vs. 8.5%, p=0.551) or cellulitis (3.5% vs. 3.7%, p=0.959) before and after recall. Implant infection was associated with smoking history (p < 0.001) and increased surgical time (p=0.003).

Conclusions

Despite the recent recall of bacitracin from inclusion in breast pocket irrigation solutions, our study demonstrated no detrimental impact on immediate complication rates. This shift in irrigation protocols calls for additional investigations into optimizing antibiotic combinations in solution, as bacitracin is no longer a viable option, to improve surgical outcomes and long-term benefits.

Defining the Relationship Between Pocket and Breast Implant Surface Area as the Basis for a New Classification System for Capsular Contracture

BACKGROUND

The precise etiology and treatment for capsular contracture remains uncertain at least partially due to the fact that there is no reliable quantitative measurement tool. To address this, it is postulated that the surface area of an implant as defined by the surrounding pocket may provide a quantifiable variable that can be measured to evaluate the degree of capsular contracture.

METHODS

A bench model for capsular contracture was developed. The surface area of a series of spherical test objects and non-contracted and contracted breast implants was measured using a wax coating technique as well as three-dimensional reconstructions created from CT scan images.

RESULTS

Comparison of the mathematically calculated surface areas to the wax and CT results for spheres of known dimension provided nearly identical values documenting the accuracy of the two experimental methods. Comparison of the surface area measurements between the test groups showed that the average decrease in surface area for all implants was 20%, ranging from a high of 30.9% for a low profile implant to a low of 14.1 % for a high profile implant. The anatomically shaped devices demonstrated nearly uniform degrees of surface area change over three different heights with volume and projection held relatively constant.

CONCLUSIONS

The described bench model provides a useful tool for the study of capsular contracture. Surface area is a descriptive variable that can assess the degree of capsular contracture that is present. A classification system based on surface area is presented.

The Current Knowledge on the Pathogenesis of Tissue and Medical Device-Related Biofilm Infections

Biofilm is the trigger for the majority of infections caused by the ability of microorganisms to adhere to tissues and medical devices. Microbial cells embedded in the biofilm matrix are highly tolerant to antimicrobials and escape the host immune system. Thus, the refractory nature of biofilm-related infections (BRIs) still represents a great challenge for physicians and is a serious health threat worldwide. Despite its importance, the microbiological diagnosis of a BRI is still difficult and not routinely assessed in clinical microbiology. Moreover, biofilm bacteria are up to 100–1000 times less susceptible to antibiotics than their planktonic counterpart. Consequently, conventional antibiograms might not be representative of the bacterial drug susceptibility in vivo. The timely recognition of a BRI is a crucial step to directing the most appropriate biofilm-targeted antimicrobial strategy.

Efficacy of Povidone Iodine Against Microbial Biofilms in Breast Implants With Different Textures: Results From an in vitro Study

Background

In the practice of breast augmentation and reconstruction, implant irrigation with various solutions has been widely used to prevent infection and capsular contracture, but to date, there is no consensus on the optimal protocol to use. Recently, application of povidone iodine (PI) for 30 min has shown in vitro to be the most effective irrigating formula in reducing contamination in smooth breast implants. However, as 30 min is not feasible intraoperatively, it is necessary to determine whether shorter times could be equally effective as well as to test it in both smooth and textured implants.

Methods

We tested the efficacy of 10% PI at 1', 3', and 5' against biofilms of 8 strains (2 ATCC and 6 clinical) of Staphylococcus spp. on silicone disks obtained from Mentor^® and Polytech^® implants of different textures. We analyzed the percentage reduction of cfu counts, cell viability and bacterial density between treatment (PI) and control (sterile saline, SS) groups for each time of application. We consider clinical significance when > 25% reduction was observed in cell viability or bacterial density.

Results

All textured implants treated with PI at any of the 3 exposure times reduced 100% bacterial load by culture. However, none of the implants reached enough clinical significance in percentage reduction of living cells. Regarding bacterial density, only 25-50 μm Polytxt^® Polytech^® implants showed significant reduction at the three PI exposure times.

Conclusion

PI is able to inhibit bacterial growth applied on the surface of breast implants regardless of the exposure time. However, no significant reduction on living cells or bacterial density was observed. This lack of correlation may be caused by differences in texture that directly affect PI absorption.

Implants and Breast Pocket Irrigation: Outcomes of Antibiotic, Antiseptic, and Saline Irrigation

BACKGROUND

Breast implant-associated infection and capsular contracture are challenging complications that can result in poor outcomes following implant-based breast surgery. Antimicrobial irrigation of the breast pocket or implant is a widely accepted strategy to prevent these complications, but the literature lacks an evidence-based consensus on the optimal irrigation solution.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this systematic review was to compare clinical outcomes, specifically capsular contracture, infection, and reoperation rates, associated with the use of antibiotic, antiseptic, and saline irrigation.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in March 2020 based on the following search terms: "breast implant," "irrigation," "antibiotic," "bacitracin," "antiseptic," "povidone iodine," "betadine," "low concentration chlorhexidine," and "hypochlorous acid." Capsular contracture, infection, and reoperation rates were compared by analysis of forest plots.

RESULTS

Out of the 104 articles screened, 14 met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in capsular contracture rates between antibiotic and povidone-iodine irrigation, although the data comparing these 2 groups were limited and confounded by the concurrent use of steroids. Antibiotic irrigation showed a significantly lower rate of capsular contracture compared with saline irrigation and a lower rate of capsular contracture and reoperation compared with no irrigation at all. Povidone-iodine was associated with lower rates of capsular contracture and reoperation compared with saline irrigation but there were no data on infection rates specific to povidone-iodine irrigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports the use of antibiotics or povidone-iodine for breast implant irrigation. Further research is required to better determine which of these 2 irrigation types is superior.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Evidence-Based Wound Irrigation: Separating Fact from Fiction

SUMMARY

The relationship between wound irrigation and healing has been recognized for centuries. However, there is little evidence and no official recommendations from any health care organization regarding best wound irrigation practices. This is the first review of wound irrigation that systematically summarizes the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and distills the evidence into a practical format. In this comprehensive review, the authors outline the irrigation fluids and delivery methods used in the identified studies, analyze reported treatment outcomes, summarize irrigation effectiveness, and propose evidence-based guidelines to improve wound healing outcomes and enhance the consistency of wound irrigation. Thirty-one high-quality studies with a combined total of 61,808 patients were included. Based on the current evidence provided by this review, the authors propose the following guidelines: (1) acute soft-tissue wounds should receive continuous gravity flow irrigation with polyhexanide; (2) complex wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with polyhexanide; (3) infected wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with silver nitrate, polyhexanide, acetic acid, or povidone-iodine; (4) breast implant wounds should receive gravity lavage with povidone-iodine or antibiotics; and (5) surgical-site infection rates can be reduced with intraoperative povidone-iodine irrigation.

Evaluating the Quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses About Breast Augmentation Using AMSTAR

BACKGROUND

Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. Therefore, it is imperative to have evidence with high methodological quality to guide clinical decision making.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the methodological quality of the systematic reviews (SRs) focused on breast augmentation.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews was performed. SRs that have a particular focus on breast augmentation and were published in the top 15 plastic and reconstructive surgery journals were included. Quality assessment was performed using a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR). Study characteristics were extracted including journal and impact factor, year of publication, country affiliation of the corresponding author, reporting adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, number of citations, and number of studies included.

RESULTS

Among the 22 studies included for analysis, the mean AMSTAR score was moderate (5.55), with no SR achieving good quality (AMSTAR score of ≥9). There were no significant associations between AMSTAR score and journal impact factor, number of citations, year of publication, or number of included studies. Studies that reported adherence to PRISMA guidelines on average scored higher on the AMSTAR tool (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The methodological quality of reviews about breast augmentation was found to be moderate, with no significant increase in studies or quality over time. Adherence to PRISMA guidelines and increased appraisal of SRs about breast augmentation using methodological assessment tools would further strengthen methodological quality and confidence in study findings.

Revision Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is consistently one of the most commonly performed aesthetic operations every year. Unfortunately, revision rates following primary augmentation remain as high as 36%. There are several causes for revision breast augmentation; however, the most common and challenging of these include capsular contracture, implant malposition, and ptosis of the aging breast following augmentation. Successful management of these problems requires knowledge on how to best treat the implant and capsule with the corresponding soft tissue simultaneously. While surgical management is important, understanding the pathological causes of these entities during the primary operation can reduce the need for revision. This article utilizes the most up-to-date literature to review the appropriate clinical evaluation and surgical management of these complex cases.

Preliminary Outcomes of Hypochlorous Acid as an Adjunct for Pocket Irrigation in Revision Aesthetic Breast Surgery

BACKGROUND

Capsular contracture is a challenging problem for plastic surgeons despite advances in surgical technique. Breast pocket irrigation decreases bacterial bioburden. Studies have shown that hypochlorous acid (HOCl; PhaseOne Health, Nashville, TN) effectively penetrates and disrupts biofilms; however, there are limited clinical data regarding this irrigation in breast augmentation.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HOCl pocket irrigation in revision breast augmentation by evaluating rates of capsular contracture recurrence, infection, and allergic reactions.

METHODS

We performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of revision breast augmentation cases for Baker grade III/IV capsular contractures in which pockets were irrigated with HOCl. Data were obtained from 3 board-certified plastic surgeons.

RESULTS

The study included 135 breasts in 71 patients, who ranged in age from 27 to 77 years (mean, 53.7 years). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 41 months (mean, 20.2 months). Postoperatively, there were 2 unilateral Baker grade III/IV recurrences at 13 months and 1 bilateral Baker grade II recurrence at 3 months. There were no infections or allergic reactions. The overall Baker grade III/IV capsular contracture recurrence rate was 0% at 12 months and 1.5% at 15 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast pocket irrigation decreases bioburden, which may influence capsular contracture recurrence. We evaluated 3 varied applications of HOCl in revision aesthetic breast surgery and found a low capsular contracture recurrence rate and no adverse reactions. We plan to report our findings with HOCl in primary breast augmentation in the future, and other studies are being conducted on the efficacy of HOCl in aesthetic surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

A Systematic Review of Breast Irrigation in Implant-Based Breast Surgery

BACKGROUND

Aesthetic and reconstructive implant-based breast surgeries are some of the most frequently performed procedures by plastic surgeons. As such, prevention of implant infection is of high importance. However, there remains no criterion-standard protocol for irrigation of the breast pocket. This review focuses on current irrigation practices in implant-based breast surgery.

METHODS

Four databases were used to search for all studies, including randomized controlled trials, retrospective cohort, and prospective cohort, containing original data related to the outcomes investigated in this study. Search terms included "breast," "irrigation," and "infection" in different combinations to isolate studies that focused on irrigation methods in both reconstructive and augmentation surgeries. Our selection criteria specifically concentrated on those studies that explicitly related irrigation procedures to rates of clinical infection and/or capsular contracture. Each was compiled into a table in chronological order to make comparisons between the differing irrigation methods.

RESULTS

Our search returned 239 full-text articles eligible for our review. Two independent screeners identified 9 studies that met the inclusion criteria. This included 1 prospective study and 8 retrospective studies. Two studies reported the use of chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation resulting in protection from clinical infection. Two studies investigated the role of triple antibiotic solution (TAS) either alone or combined with something else on risk of infection, and 3 reported TAS use on rates of capsular contracture. Two additional studies investigated the role of single antibiotic irrigation, concluding that some antibiotic regimen for irrigation may be sufficient in the breast pocket. Interestingly, one study noted the potential use of povidone-iodine (Betadine) as a method of irrigation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that chlorhexidine gluconate, Betadine, and TAS irrigation of the breast pocket can provide protection against infection and implant loss in both reconstruction and augmentation surgeries.

Breast Implants for Mammaplasty: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Multiple Complications

BACKGROUND

The association of breast implants and complications after mammaplasty has been extensively researched. The aim of this study is to summarize all available results in meta-analysis investigating the association between implants and the incidence of various complications.

METHODS

An umbrella review for breast implants and associated complications was performed by searching related reviews from electronic databases including Pubmed, Ovid and CINAHL. We collected and reviewed evidence across meta-analyses of observational and interventional studies of implants and any health outcome. The quality of the reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR tool (A measurement tool to assess systematic reviews).

RESULTS

The research included 92 meta-analyses of 609 studies concerning various areas. Capsular contracture was the most investigated outcome. Radiotherapy, human acellular dermal matrix application, direct-to-implant reconstruction, smooth implant, silicone-filled implant and periareolar incision were significantly associated with higher rates of some of the complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This umbrella review provides surgeons with summarized evidence of the association between the complications and implant-related factors in mammaplasty surgery to help surgeons make informed choices in the future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Management of Capsular Contracture in Cases of Silicone Gel Breast Implant Rupture with Use of Pulse Lavage and Open Capsulotomy

INTRODUCTION

Pulse lavage (PL) irrigation of prosthesis pockets has prior been described for breast implant salvages. However, PL for removal of leaked silicone from prosthesis pockets after implant ruptures has not been studied yet. Since open capsulotomies are regarded as equal treatment of capsular contracture (CC) than capsulectomies, this study analyzed the clinical outcome of PL for silicone removal and subsequent capsulotomy in cases of concurrent CC and breast implant rupture.

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2017, 55 patients (75 breasts) with suspected silicone implant rupture and CC (Baker grade III/IV), after primary breast augmentation or implant-based breast reconstruction, were included in a retrospective, observational study. Mean patient follow-up was 12.2 ± 3.6 months.

RESULTS

In all preoperatively suspected ruptured silicone breast implants, around a quarter were intact. In contrast to previously published data, implant exchanges in cases of implant ruptures did not lead to significantly higher CC recurrence rates (27.6% vs. 22.2% in cases of intact implants, p = 0.682), if the prosthesis pockets were treated with PL irrigation followed by open capsulotomy. PL reduced the amount of encapsulated silicone remnants histologically. The age of patients with CC after failed implant-based reconstruction was significant lower for salvage surgeries with flap reconstruction than for implant exchanges, p < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

PL irrigation of prosthesis pockets prior to open capsulotomy is a safe and effective treatment of CC with concurrent silicone leakage. Remaining silicone remnants in breast capsules may affect the development of a recurrent CC. To avoid CC recurrences, patients should consider conversion to autologous tissue.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .