Infection to implant removal. Were these two infections related? (Photo)

I would think the two infections were not related due to the time span between each. However, a small amount of bacteria from the first might have contaminated your implant in a small dose which gradually grew to the second infection. More often, the second infection followed a dental appointment or infection elsewhere, like sinus.

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs. It would be impossible to know completely if both infections were related but suspicion is high, especially if culture results demonstrated the same strain of bacteria.

Good morning,
Although you will never know with certainty. it is quite likely that the entire infectious process is one and the same and all related- you suppressed it early on with the antibiotics, but didn't completely eradicate it, resulting in subclinical spreading to your mesh and implant, which subsequently found a home and blossomed.