Evidence-Based Protocol for Infection Control in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

Immediate breast implant reconstruction has among the highest incidence of infections in plastic surgery. A literature search returned key articles that showed a significant decrease in surgical-site infections by performing nasal swab evaluation to treat methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus before surgery with mupirocin nasal ointment and 5 days of chlorhexidine scrub to the surgical area. Additional Level 1 data supported the use of chlorhexidine-alcohol over povidone-iodine solutions for skin preparation. Intraoperative data on breast pocket irrigation showed the benefits of povidone-iodine as well as a triple antibiotic solution. Nasal swabs from 120 patients showed no methicillin-resistant S. aureus but did identify 10 patients with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, 1 with streptococcus, and 3 with gram-negative rods, which changed perioperative antibiotic management. On the basis of the previously mentioned data, an evidence-based protocol for infection control was developed to potentially decrease infection rates. Further cost and efficacy data are warranted.