Cutibacterium acnes in breast implants: an underestimated bacterial infection and review of the literature.

A retrospective review was conducted from two institutions between January 2012 and July 2022. The inclusion criteria were adult patients above the age of 18 years with confirmed radiological and histopathological findings of C. acnes following breast implants. Patient consent was obtained in keeping with local ethical clinical practice and guidelines. Data collected included basic demographics, implant history and symptoms, time to presentation, imaging and management. All patients underwent base line bloods, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report a total of three patients who presented with mastalgia and breast swelling following breast implants with histopathological confirmation of C. acnes . The mean age was 32 (±7.5) years. The average implant age was 8 (±1.8) years ranging from 6 to 10 years. The average onset of symptoms before presentation to a surgeon was 18 months (±21) ranging from 1.5 to 48 months. The common symptoms included breast swelling and mastalgia. All patients had bilateral capsulectomy with the removal of implants ( Fig. 2 ). All patients had resolution of symptoms with a minimum of 1-year follow-up without complications. A 27-year-old nulliparous female presented to the emergency department with a 6-week history of left breast swelling, hardness and mastalgia. Her past medical history included endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, migraine, anxiety, depression and regional lower limb pain syndrome. She underwent breast augmentation with silicone textured breast implants a decade ago. Clinically, her vital signs were stable with no haemodynamic instability or features of infection. Examination revealed bilateral breast asymmetry with both breasts extremely hard and tender and the left was worse than the right. There were bilateral prominent axillary nodes. Her baseline biochemical panel was normal. She underwent breast MRI, which showed left breast intracapsular rupture, moderate volume peri-implant fluid and diffuse thickening with avid enhancement of the fibrous capsule ( Fig. 1 ). An US-guided left peri-implant fluid aspiration returned CD30 negative with no pathological features of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). She underwent the removal of bilateral breast implants with en bloc capsulectomy. Intraoperative findings included bilateral double capsules and outer capsules densely adhered to the ribs, muscles and breast. The inner capsules were severely contracted and significantly adherent to the underlying textured implants with bilateral thick peri implant intracapsular fluid. Both implants were removed with double capsules with subsequently no silicone or fluid spillage. MRI of breasts showing left capsular lesion. ( A ) T1-weighted delayed subtraction axial MRI of breasts demonstrating intracapsular rupture with scattered foci of signal abnormalities consistent with disruptions in the silicone-matrix. ( B ) T1-weighted contrast sagittal MRI of right breast demonstrating mild diffuse thickening of the fibrous capsule with no nodularity and no abnormal enhancement. ( C ) T1-weighted contrast sagittal MRI of left breast demonstrating intracapsular rupture. The implant shell demonstrates several folds and indurations with no gross disruption Histopathological assessment showed a fibrous breast capsule with synovial metaplasia, focal refractile silicone-like material and patch mild chronic inflammation. There was no atypical lymphoid infiltrate present and no capsular/traumatic neuroma was seen. There was no active inflammation or evidence of neoplasia. Cultures from both capsules grew C. acnes . The patient was discharged with a 5-day course of oral cephalexin. Seroma from both breasts was aspirated and cultures grew Cutibacterium avidum and within 4 weeks there was no drainable seroma or clinical features of infection. A 27-year-old female presented to her general practitioner with a 3-year history of bilateral mastalgia with worsening pain over the last 5 months. Her past medical history included tuberous breast asymmetry and asthma with no regular medications or allergies. She had no significant family or cancer history. She underwent breast augmentation surgery with textured silicone breast implants 6 years prior. On examination, both breasts demonstrated tender palpable implants and rippling with features of bilateral Grade 3 capsular contractures. There was no associated lymphadenopathy. She underwent an US, which demonstrated intact implants and no evidence of suspicious lesions or axillary lymphadenopathy. An MRI was arranged, but because of severe breast pain, the patient was unable to tolerate it. The patient underwent the removal of bilateral breast implants with an en bloc capsulectomy. Intraoperative findings revealed that both implant capsules significantly adhered to the ribs, muscles and implants contained thick peri-implant fluid bilaterally. Histopathological analysis showed a fibrous breast capsule with synovial metaplasia and focal refractile silicone-like material with associated foreign body-type multi-nucleated giant cells. There was no atypical lymphoid infiltrate present with no active inflammation or evidence of neoplasia. Cultures from the left capsule grew left C. acnes . A 43-year-old female presented to her general practitioner with a 4-year history of worsening bilateral mastalgia. She also experienced multiple BII symptoms such as brain fog, lethargy, low mood, altered gut functions, food intolerance, bloating, loose stools, low libido. She had no other relevant past medical history and no family history of cancer. She has cosmetic breast augmentation surgery 10 years ago. On examination, both breasts demonstrated general discomfort with bilateral Grade 2 capsular contracture and prominent bilateral axillary lymph nodes. Intraoperative photos of bilateral breast implants. ( A ) Patient 1: right and left breast implant capsules. ( B ) Patient 2: right and left breast implant capsules. ( C ) Patient 3: right and left breast implant capsules Breast MRI demonstrated disruptions in the silicone-matrix of both breast implants. There was no abnormality of concern to suggest BIA-ALCL and no features of breast carcinoma or adenopathy. The patient underwent the removal of bilateral breast implants with an en bloc capsulectomy and bilateral corrective mastopexy. Intraoperative findings revealed that both implant capsules significantly adhered to the ribs, muscles and implants contained thick peri-implant fluid bilaterally suspicious for a gel bleed ( Fig. 2 ). There was significant peri-implant fibrotic scar tissue and adhesions with no extra-capsular siliconoma or mass seen with no features of ALCL. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a benign fibrous capsule with synovial metaplasia with no atypical lymphoid infiltrate present; cultures from the both capsules grew C. acnes.

The authors contributed to the conception and design of the manuscript, revised it critically for important intellectual content, approved the final version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Cutibacterium acnes is an important under recognised bacterium that plays a role in BII. Surgeons should be aware of this potential under recognised complication and have an open discussion with patients before breast surgery including potential risks and management. Currently, revision surgery with explant and capsulectomy is the only available treatment option for women with severe capsular contracture.

BII occurs in 1.1–2.5% of patients after aesthetic breast augmentation and up to 35% after breast implant reconstruction following mastectomy [ 4 ]. A systematic review reported one of the most common complications after breast augmentation surgery is capsular contracture with incidences up to 30% [ 5 , 6 ]. The pathogenesis of capsular contracture is thought to be a result of a multifocal inflammatory process resulting in an excessive fibrotic reaction causing deformation and irritation of the breast [ 7 ]. The associated risk factors include indication for surgery (reconstructive versus cosmetic augmentations), history of pre- and post-operative radiation therapy, type of prosthesis used (texture and material) and positioning of the implant (subglandular versus submuscular) [ 6 ]. Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes ) is a slow-growing, gram positive human skin commensal that prefers anaerobic growth conditions. It is commonly involved in the pathogenesis of acnes [ 8 ], but also recognised as a pathogen in foreign body infection such as endocarditis, bone and prosthesis infections [ 9 ]. In a study of 139 capsulectomies, C. acnes was isolated in approximately half the positive cultures [ 10 ]. Cutibacterium acnes has many virulence strategies with differing growth potential in human tissue attributing to timely delay in clinical presentation [ 11 , 12 ]. It can be problematic to manage because of its ability to produce biofilms on surgical material contributing to the pathogenesis of capsular contractures [ 13–16 ]. In our series, C. acnes was grown from cultures originating from the implant capsule, but Pittet’s systematic review suggests that the most likely origin of the pathogen is either the patient’s skin or colonised mammary ducts at the incision site [ 17 ]. A search of the literature was conducted using the terms ‘Propionibacterium or Cutibacterium acnes’ and ‘breast implants’, and ‘breast implant illness’ across multiple databases including Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles included were those that specifically measured systemic symptoms attributed to the breast implants and reported microbiology for the implant samples for C. acnes or P. acnes. Of 733 articles, six articles satisfied reported an average age of 43.8 years (±6.3). The literature reports 556 women experiencing systemic or extra-mammary symptoms of BII, ranged from fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, loss of concentration and anxiety; <200 women reported mammary symptoms associated with BII. All cases were managed with explantation surgery either with or without capsulectomies. There were no cases of malignancy of neoplastic changes. Of 556 women, 106 patients (19%) grew C. acnes ( Table 1 ). In our series patients had breast implants for 8.0 (±1.8) years with the average onset of symptoms before presentation was 18 months (±21). A literature review of case reports on C. acnes and BII BIA-ALCL is a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has recently garnered consideration as a unique clinicopathologic entity by the World Health Organization [ 18 , 19 ]. The most common clinical presentation of BIA-ALCL is a peri-implant effusion seen within 551 cases out of a total 1130 (49%) as of January 2022 [ 20 ]. The pathogenesis of BIA-ALCL is unclear though chronic inflammation by the presence of biofilm results in persistent T-cell transformation and lymphomagenesis [ 13 , 19 ]. Although rare, it is an important diagnosis to exclude in a patient presenting with breast capsular contracture and peri-implant effusions. Breast US remains the gold-standard for detecting implant rupture, seroma or any peri-implant or capsular mass [ 21–23 ]. The main treatment for breast implant infections includes en bloc explantation, explant with total capsulectomy, explant with partial capsulectomy or open capsulotomy with long-term surveillance. The contamination is usually during surgery, and in revision surgery, handling of an implant through aseptic techniques and funnelling is an important practice change. Our cases highlight the importance of identifying a common complication of breast implants in the form of capsular contracture and the associated bacterial infection of C. acnes . Surgeons may have a high degree of suspicious of capsular contractures with BII; however, the symptoms of capsular contracture can present at different points post-surgery. The foundation of a triple assessment and workup including broader differentials such as common pathogens should be part of the armamentarium to recognise skin-related pathogens and practice of implantation.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures with a global estimate over 1.6 million procedures performed annually [ 1 ]. In Australia, ~20 000 women undergo this procedure annually with 75% for cosmetic augmentation and 25% for reconstruction [ 2 ]. Breast implant complications can present with a wide range of symptoms, collectively referred to as breast implant illness (BII); these include fatigue, chronic pain, rash, body odour, irregular heart rate, anxiety, neurologic abnormalities, hair loss and endocrine dysfunction [ 3 ]. The relationship between bacteria growth and BII is emerging in the literature with greater attention because of its prevalence as more patients present with BII and Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants after Silicone Breast Augmentation Surgery. Cutibacterium acnes is an under-recognised, gram-positive anaerobe that can be part of the normal microflora. However, in certain circumstances it can present as a causative organism of breast augmentation surgery in the form of capsular contractures. This article will outline the pathology and relationship of C. acnes with breast surgery and review of the literature.