RATIONALE: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world. It is usually diagnosed in women 50 years old and older, but is also found in younger women. Its occurrence in young women led to questions with regards issues on its tumor biology, survival and fertility. There is insufficient local data to formulate treatment options relevant to this age group. This study reviews the data on breast cancer in young female patients seen in a tertiary institution. METHODS: This is a descriptive study involving a review of medical records of young female breast cancer patients (<35 years of age), seen at the Philippine General Hospital - Breast Care Center from January 2008 to December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were included in the study. Of these young female patients, 29.4% presented with locally advanced disease (Stage IIIB) correlating with a high number of patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (38.7%) and modified radical mastectomies with primary closure (62.18%). CONCLUSION Breast cancer in young females should be aggressively investigated as it commonly presents in an advanced stage.

Background: Mastectomy is a common surgical procedure done worldwide. Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common healthcare-associated infection. Mastectomy SSIs are frequently under-reported.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the incidence of SSI among mastectomy cases of the Department of Surgery, University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) during one year of full implementation of the Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Program and evaluate the program's surveillance follow-up rate.

Methods: This study was an observational practice audit research that included all adult patients who underwent a mastectomy in UP-PGH from January 1, 2018, to January 31, 2019, when the SSI Surveillance Program was fully implemented. SSI was monitored and assessed during the patient's hospital stay, on the day of hospital discharge, and at 30 days (± 2 days) after surgery, either during an outpatient visit or via phone call by a nurse navigator. SSI frequency for mastectomy was computed both during the in-hospital stay and at 30 days after surgery. Surveillance follow-up rate, defined as the proportion of patients who could follow-up up to 30 days after surgery, was determined.

Results: The 30-day SSI rate for mastectomy was 6.8% (19/279). All 279 patients were followed up to 30 days after surgery. Of the 279 patients, 277 (99.3%) were through clinic visits, one was through phone calls, and one was still admitted to the hospital.

Conclusion: Full implementation of the SSI Surveillance Program for mastectomy in UP-PGH for one year showed a higher SSI rate than in published international literature. The program had a complete 30-day patient follow-up, contributing to more accurate SSI reporting. Implementing an SSI surveillance program with standardized protocols, dedicated personnel, patient education component, and the analysis of the information derived from such programs can improve an institution's quality of surgical care.

Surgical Wound Infection ; Mastectomy