Lavinia Chong, MD

There was an epidemiological cluster in Southeast Texas or Louisiana, where saline implants, which were filled with an "open system" of irrigation saline poured into a surgical container.  Apparently the prevalence of "spores" in these more humid environments may have been inadvertently imported into the implants.  This practice is a historical foot note, so it doesn't reflect what is done today. Saline implants are filled with intravenous grade saline (salt water), which is instilled using an Aseptic Transfer System, sterile tubing, which draws the fluid directly from the IV bag into the implant; essentially a "no touch" technique.  Good luck.