TRANSIENT BACTEREMIA - A CAUSE OF INFECTION IN PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFTS

To test the theory that freshly implanted vascular prosthetic grafts are susceptible to infection via circulating bacteria, the infrarenal aortas of twelve dogs were replaced with Dacron grafts during experimentally induced bacteremia from Staph. aureus. Three weeks after graft placement, all grafts showed infection with Staph. aureus. The results of this study indicate that a prosthetic vascular graft, unprotected by pseudointima, is vulnerable to circulating bacteria in the blood stream. It is suggested that prophylactic antibiotics be used in patients who are scheduled to receive a prosthetic vascular graft. © 1969.