A study of correlation between prosthetic breast reconstruction, antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical wound drains

Abstract Aim: The primary aim of this investigation into the correlation between prosthetic breast reconstruction, antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical drains was to determine whether the short-term prophylaxis recommended in the current guidelines is in fact able to sterilize the peri-prosthetic pocket in patients undergoing prosthetic breast reconstruction via tissue expansion, permanent implant placement, or Becker implants, as well as augmentation to correct symmetry. Methods: A total of 96 women who had undergone prosthetic breast reconstruction surgery were considered. Patients were recruited from the Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gemona, and the Surgery Clinic, Udine, both affiliated with the Udine “Santa Maria della Misericordia” University Hospital between May 2013 and May 2014. All patients were administered the recommended short-term antibiotic prophylaxis, i.e. 2 g cephazolin (plus 1 g eventually given after 3.5 h of surgery) 30 min before surgery. Records pertaining to each patient were kept in a specific study chart. Results: Samples of peri-prosthetic drainage fluid were taken from 92.5% of the recipients of breast reconstruction/implant surgery. Only 2.3% of the samples analyzed were found to be positive for microbial strains. Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study are encouraging, demonstrating that the guidelines regarding short-term antibiotic prophylaxis are indeed effective.