Lay summary
Reducing Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) is a priority for the New Zealand Health Quality & Safety (HQSC) Commission, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), the Ministry of Health, and District Health Boards. Over one-third of ACC costs are attributed to managing SSIs. Breast cancer is the most commonly registered cancer for women, with Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction (IBBR) representing the most common method of breast reconstruction following mastectomy in New Zealand and worldwide. With this activation grant we want to explore the potential for an established, simple, low-cost and well tolerated protocol consisting of nose and skin cleansing (i.e. “anti-staphylococcal decolonisation bundle”) in reducing SSI in breast reconstruction surgery. Robust evidence exists from similar surgical settings such as implant-based orthopaedic and cardiac surgery indicating that this protocol significantly reduces infection rates, improves patient experience, and improves equitable outcomes, while decreasing cost and complications associated with breast reconstruction.