Robert Whitfield MDAmerica's Breast Implant Illness Expert™

Breast Implant Infections: Understanding Causes & Solutions

3 Jun 2025 · 2 min

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1:33

A short lecture/transcript excerpt where Robert Whitfield MD discusses microbial causes of breast implant–related symptoms. He reports a study of ~700 samples tested by PCR since 2019, identifying Cutibacterium actus as the most common organism and Staphylococcus epidermidis second; he explains that bacterial interaction with oleic acid produces an oxylipin (referred to as “oxylipin 10 home”) that can modulate immunity and contribute to symptoms (pain, anxiety, fatigue). He emphasizes that implant infections are real and clinically significant.

Questions this video answers

Almost 700 samples.

Since 2019.

Cutibacterium actus.

Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Interaction of Staphylococcus epidermidis with oleic acid producing an oxylipin called (referred to here) "oxylipin 10 home".

Chapters

Well, that's a. I think that's an aberration in that patient. So we published a paper last year of almost 700 samples. And using PCR testing, if everybody remembers from the pandemic, you could do an antigen test. And if it was equivocal, you do a PCR test to back it up. And so we PCR test all of my samples since 2019 to clarify exactly what is there at the time. And it's shown that the number one thing is Cutibacterium actus in our series. Number two is staph epidermidis. Papers have been published showing Staph epidermidis really interacts with the breast tissue, specifically a fatty acid called oleic acid. And that interaction creates a molecule called oxylipin 10 home. Now, that's a lot of fancy stuff, but ultimately what happens is that molecule affects the immune system and can contribute to symptoms like pain, anxiety, fatigue. So when you have this cause effect type relationship, now there's really no reason to relay to patients like this is not an actual problem, because it is. And everybody who places any kind of implant knows it can get infected. So I've helped every surgeon that you can name or think of take care of an implant problem of someone they've cared for. So everybody accepts this. It's just, I don't feel like we should be not appreciating the gravity of the problem.