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Microbial Biofilms and Adverse Reactions to Gel Fillers Used in Cosmetic Surgery

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Biofilm-based Healthcare-associated Infections

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 831))

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the evidence of bacterial biofilms as a cause of adverse reactions to tissue fillers used in cosmetic surgery. It has long been discussed whether these adverse events were allergic reactions to the injected filler or caused by bacterial infections. The latter is favoured by our observations from patients with adverse reactions, which show the presence of bacteria with no bacteria in the control group. The likelihood of tissue fillers to support bacterial growth is discussed and substantiated. Lastly we review results from an animal model confirming that bacterial biofilms are the likely cause of the adverse reactions. The conclusion from the literature is that the adverse reactions can be prevented using prophylactic antibiotics, and steroids should be used with caution and only together with relevant antibiotics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Morten Alhede & Thomas Bjarnsholt

  2. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Morten Alhede & Thomas Bjarnsholt

  3. Department of Pathology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lise H. Christensen

Authors
  1. Morten Alhede
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  2. Lise H. Christensen
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  3. Thomas Bjarnsholt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Bjarnsholt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Microbial Biofilm Laboratory, Rome, Italy

    Gianfranco Donelli

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Alhede, M., Christensen, L.H., Bjarnsholt, T. (2015). Microbial Biofilms and Adverse Reactions to Gel Fillers Used in Cosmetic Surgery. In: Donelli, G. (eds) Biofilm-based Healthcare-associated Infections. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 831. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09782-4_4

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