Staphylococcus aureus

Erythema

Bacteria

Biology

Surgery

Abscess

Staphylococcal infections

Genetics

Physics

Breast reconstruction

Optics

Empiric treatment

Implant

Incision and drainage

Antibiotics

Microbiology

Mastectomy

Capsular contracture

Internal medicine

Medicine

Breast cancer

Incidence (geometry)

Cancer

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America

Prosthetic breast implantation is a common surgical procedure for augmentation and reconstruction after mastectomy. The incidence of implant infection is 1% to 2.5% and is higher for reconstruction following mastectomy compared with augmentation. Most infections are caused by gram-positive pathogens, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci, Cutibacterium species, Staphylococcus aureus, and streptococci. Acute infections are usually associated with fever and breast pain, erythema, and drainage. Subacute infections may present with chronic pain, persistent drainage, failed healing of the incision site, or migration of the implant. Depending on severity of infection, patients are started on empiric intravenous or oral antibiotics and closely monitored.

Breast Implant Infections