Postoperative Antibiotics Following Primary and Secondary Breast Augmentation
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-07-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Postoperative antibiotics are routinely used for implant-based breast augmentation at the
investigators' institution. From 2017-2019, the investigators' institution has conducted
approximately 270 primary and secondary breast augmentation procedures. Current plastic
surgery literature does not provide recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis following
implant-based breast procedures. Despite controversy surrounding their utility during the
postoperative course, postoperative antibiotics have become commonplace for many plastic
surgeons. To date, strong scientific evidence supporting this practice is minimal and based
largely on anecdotal evidence and limited studies, including poorly controlled retrospective
and non-blinded prospective series. The goal of this study is to conduct a prospective
randomized trial to assess whether extended antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary to prevent
infection and long-term complications (e.g. capsular contracture) in patients undergoing
augmentation mammoplasty with implants. The investigators' anticipate that extended
antibiotic prophylaxis is not required. The rationale for discontinuing postoperative
antibiotics is based on the following: (1) a single dose of preoperative intravenous
antibiotics has been demonstrated to be sufficient prophylaxis for most breast surgeries and
(2) there are patient safety concerns associated with prolonged antimicrobial use such as the
development of resistant bacterial strains and clostridium-related infections. Concrete
evidence that extended antibiotic prophylaxis is not required would encourage plastic
surgeons to practice better antibiotic stewardship and help stymie the rise of drug-resistant
organisms.