Optimizing Breast Pocket Irrigation 3.0 2016 Print

The ASERF Scientific Research Committee and Board of Directors are pleased to announce the following grant award:

Researcher: Eric Culbertson, MD

Grant Award: ASERF Interim Grant

Amount Awarded: $3,953

Project Name: Optimizing Breast Pocket Irrigation 3.0 2016

Project Summary: Breast augmentation is the most commonly performed surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States and the world. The role of bacteria/biofilm on breast implant surfaces in potentiating the development of capsular contracture, one of the most common complications of breast augmentation, has been well established. Interestingly, there is strong data that chronic inflammation from bacteria/ biofilm is also responsible for the development of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). A higher burden of implant bacteria/biofilm is associated with greater lymphocyte stimulation, specifically a T-cell response. Chronic T-cell activation in response to the implant biofilm may be the inciting factor in BIA-ALCL. We have previously developed and demonstrated the efficacy of specific antibiotic irrigation solutions against bacteria commonly implicated implant infection, to be used at the time of implant placement. However, certain bacterial species known to cause implant infection and/or biofilm formation have not been tested, particularly gram negatives, and Ralstonia spp have recently been linked to BIA-ALCL. The purpose of this study is to compare the in vitro efficacy of povidone-iodine, two previously studied triple antibiotic solutions and three new antibiotic solutions against previously untested bacteria implicated in implant biofilm formation and/or linked to BIA-ALCL.