Drain Antisepsis Protocol Linked to Lower Infection After Breast Reconstruction

A propensity score-matched retrospective study compared patients undergoing immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction who followed a standardized drain antisepsis protocol (chlorhexidine disc changed weekly plus daily Dakin's solution drain bulb irrigation) to matched controls without the protocol. The study reported a lower infection rate (11.2% vs 16.3%) and lower infection-related explantation rate (5.8% vs 10.2%) in the drain antisepsis group. The authors concluded the protocol was associated with reduced surgical site infection and device explantation.

Most relevant for: Patients undergoing immediate implant-based breast reconstruction with tissue expanders and surgical drains.

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