title: Microbial growth within saline-filled tissue expanders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tissue expander based reconstruction is the most common restorative procedure used following mastectomy. Infection is a common complication in the post-operative period and may lead to failure of the reconstruction. Various previous studies have investigated the potential sources of infection during these procedures. The purpose of this study was to examine the fluid within the saline-filled tissue expander at time of implant exchange for the presence of microbial growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients (39 breasts) were enrolled in the study. Fluid samples were sent for Gram stain, aerobic, anaerobic, fungal, and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) cultures. Average age was 53.1. Mean time to exchange was 7.7 months. Average follow-up was 25 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the samples were positive for microbial growth at final culture (0/39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show the tissue expander fluid maintains a microbial-free environment during the expansion process, and is unlikely a significant source of contamination in cases of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level II, prospective cohort, therapeutic study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Electronic address: William.schmitt@grmep.com.
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Breast; Cultures; Expanders; Microbial; Saline; Tissue