Bacteroides fragilis Abscess Associated With Fat Necrosis Following Breast Augmentation With Autologous Fat Grafting: A Case Report With Review of the Literature.
- 1Infectious Diseases, Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, USA.
- 2Biochemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA.
Abstract
Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is a popular breast augmentation procedure characterized by high patient satisfaction and low complication rates. Infectious complications are uncommon with this technique, and gram-positive organisms are the predominant pathogens responsible for most cases. We report a rare case of abscess formation due to Bacteroides fragilis infection occurring in the setting of presumed fat necrosis following AFG, as indicated by ultrasound imaging and plastic surgery evaluation. A 52-year-old woman developed a postoperative infection after AFG and abdominal liposuction despite receiving ciprofloxacin for prevention of infectious complications. Initial imaging suggested postsurgical changes, and she was treated with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. She re-presented two weeks later with fever and worsening bilateral breast pain; repeat imaging revealed bilateral rim-enhancing fluid collections. Aspiration cultures grew Bacteroides fragilis. The patient initially improved with intravenous (IV) antibiotics followed by oral metronidazole; cefadroxil was additionally prescribed to provide empiric coverage for gram-positive organisms, given prior antibiotic exposure that may have affected culture results. However, the patient subsequently developed recurrent disease and ultimately required incision and drainage. This case highlights a rare anaerobic infection after AFG and emphasizes the need for early recognition and appropriate antimicrobial coverage.
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BibTeX
@article{redmann2026bacteroides,
title = {{Bacteroides fragilis Abscess Associated With Fat Necrosis Following Breast Augmentation With Autologous Fat Grafting: A Case Report With Review of the Literature.}},
author = {Nadiia Redmann and Shrikant K Goyal and Negin Niknam and Harika Kalangi and Assaf Holtzman},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.116653},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910312},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bacteroides fragilis Abscess Associated With Fat Necrosis Following Breast Augmentation With Autologous Fat Grafting: A Case Report With Review of the Literature.
AU - Nadiia Redmann
AU - Shrikant K Goyal
AU - Negin Niknam
AU - Harika Kalangi
AU - Assaf Holtzman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.116653
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910312
AB - Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is a popular breast augmentation procedure characterized by high patient satisfaction and low complication rates. Infectious complications are uncommon with this technique, and gram-positive organisms are the predominant pathogens responsible for most cases. We report a rare case of abscess formation due to Bacteroides fragilis infection occurring in the setting of presumed fat necrosis following AFG, as indicated by ultrasound imaging and plastic surgery evaluation. A 52-year-old woman developed a postoperative infection after AFG and abdominal liposuction despite receiving ciprofloxacin for prevention of infectious complications. Initial imaging suggested postsurgical changes, and she was treated with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. She re-presented two weeks later with fever and worsening bilateral breast pain; repeat imaging revealed bilateral rim-enhancing fluid collections. Aspiration cultures grew Bacteroides fragilis. The patient initially improved with intravenous (IV) antibiotics followed by oral metronidazole; cefadroxil was additionally prescribed to provide empiric coverage for gram-positive organisms, given prior antibiotic exposure that may have affected culture results. However, the patient subsequently developed recurrent disease and ultimately required incision and drainage. This case highlights a rare anaerobic infection after AFG and emphasizes the need for early recognition and appropriate antimicrobial coverage.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -