Antibiotic prophylaxis in vascular surgery: concentration of cefuroxime and ceftazidime in drain fluid

Infection of a vascular prosthesis is an uncommon complication after arterial reconstruction. In literature (1) an incidence of 2–3% is reported. However, the data suggest that graft infection is associated with a mortality of 33–58% of the patients and a amputation risk of 25–75%. In a retrospective analysis of our own experience from 1977–1986, we found 14 type-III infections after 1101 arterial reconstructions (1.3%). During that time period we used 4 × 1 g of flucloxacilline as prophylaxis. Eight of the 10 early (< 2 months) infections were caused by St. Aureus and four byE. coli (see Table 1).