Microbiologic Profile of Nipple Swab Culture and its Association With Postoperative Complications in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction

Yi-Jun Moon; Jae-Ho Chung; Hyung-Chul Lee; Seung-Pil Jung; EulSik Yoon

doi:10.1093/asj/sjae021

Microbiologic Profile of Nipple Swab Culture and its Association With Postoperative Complications in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction

Aesthet Surg J. 2024 Feb 16:sjae021. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjae021. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yi-Jun Moon¹, Jae-Ho Chung¹, Hyung-Chul Lee¹, Seung-Pil Jung², EulSik Yoon¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Korea University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
² Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Korea University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

PMID: 38366904
DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjae021

Abstract

Background: In breast surgeries, lactiferous duct heading to lactic glands of breast parenchyma allows direct contamination of normal bacterial flora of nipple-areolar complex. Complete blockage of nipple flora to the intraoperative field is almost impossible.

Objectives: Therefore, we aimed to analyze the microbiological profile of nipple flora of breast cancer patients who underwent an implant-based immediate breast reconstruction after a total mastectomy; and evaluate the association of nipple bacterial flora with postoperative complications.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent an implant-based immediate breast reconstruction after a total mastectomy. A nipple swab culture was performed preoperatively. Patient demographics, surgical characteristics, and complications were compared between positive and negative nipple swab culture groups. Microbiological profile data including antibacterial resistance were collected.

Results: Among 128 breasts, 60 cases (46.9%) had positive preoperative nipple swab culture results. Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 41.4% of microorganisms isolated. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of postoperative complications revealed that the presence of nipple bacterial flora was a risk factor of capsular contracture. Seven cases of postoperative infection were analyzed. In 2 cases (40% of pathogen-proven infection), the causative pathogen matched with the patient's nipple bacterial flora, which was methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis in both cases.

Conclusions: Nipple bacterial flora was associated with an increased risk of capsular contracture. Preoperative analysis of nipple bacterial flora can be an informative source for treating clinically diagnosed postoperative infections. More studies are needed to find out the effectiveness of active antibiotic decolonization of the nipple.