Dr. Robert Whitfield presented results from PCR testing of explant specimens, finding a 29% bacterial contamination rate. The most common organisms were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes, with five fungal cases among the first 1,000 samples. He questions whether these microbial findings actually explain patient symptoms.
In September of '24, we finally got a big series published that showed that PCR-tested samples had a 29% rate of bacterial contamination. Are there parasites on implants? And so the short answer I can say is, in our experience, which is the largest published experience in the world with explant specimens being tested with PCR, that it is two dominant types of bacteria. Staph epidermidis and Cutibacterium actus. Those are just the facts. And the previous standard set by the paper published, um, after, uh, we funded research, it showed that it was 48%. So to recap, our personal experience is 29%. Now that's not to say I've never found fungus. In the first 1,000, I found 5 cases of fungus, but That was it. I have found no Mycobacterium cases, thank goodness. So that being said, like, what role does that play in symptomology, how someone feels, what's going on? So what is the feedback loop or what does that matter?
