Can a layer of antimicrobial agents be placed around breast implants to prevent staph infections from occurring?

Authors

Valerie L. Tran, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow

Files

Abstract

The most common infection that occurs after breast augmentation is a staph infection. Currently, there are only three ways to treat this type of infection, all of which treat the breast implant after the infection has developed. The first option is to treat the infection with an oral antibiotic. If this doesn’t completely rid the infection, then intravenous antibiotics are used. If this too doesn’t remove the infection, then surgery will be performed to remove the breast implant and a new implant will be inserted. Although, these options have a low mortality rate, the success rate of completely getting rid of the infection, within the first try, is low. Therefore, there needs to be a way to completely stop the occurrence of staph infections, within the first try. That is why a literature review of research is being conducted to see if a thin layer of antimicrobial agents can be placed around the breast implant to prevent staph infections from occurring. If this is possible then staph infections can significantly decrease, and the cost of having the patient to undergo more surgery or treatments options will also decrease. Currently, a variety of scholarly sources from a range of authors will be evaluated to compare which antimicrobial agents would correspond best with the proposed solution. In addition, other scholarly sources will be used to see if other methods are available or more efficient than what was originally presented. Furthermore, other sources that have studies that oppose the use of an antimicrobial agent around an implant will also be taken into consideration as well. This is implemented in the literature of research, to combat any possible challenges and introduce solutions to these issues. As of now, the current trend from my research shows that the use of antimicrobial agents around breast implants surpass the efficiency and effectiveness of other methods that are currently being proposed to combat staph infections. Future implications that can arise from this, is the ability to conduct further research on other implants, to see if a layer of antimicrobial agents can also be used.

Publication Date

2017

Disciplines

Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Chemicals and Drugs | Investigative Techniques

Current Academic Year

Freshman

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Faye O Prichard

Rights

© The Author(s)

Recommended Citation

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