title: [Infection of vascular prosthesis].
abstract: Infections of vascular grafts are rare, but often life-threatening. Clinical signs and symptoms must be actively sought for, since the association with past vascular surgery is not always evident. Clinical history reveals fever, delayed wound healing, ischemia, or possibly gastrointestinal bleeding. Signs are wound infection, fever, septic emboli, or a new vascular murmur. Laboratory findings are non-specific. In most cases, diagnosis can be made by scintigraphy techniques. Treatment with antibiotics alone is seldom successful, and may be complicated by progressive infection (suture insufficiency). Mortality and morbidity of vascular graft infection are high, so that prophylaxis and early diagnosis are of paramount importance.
authors: Departement für Innere Medizin, Universität Basel.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Zimmerli
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
vernacular_title: Infektionen von Gefässprosthesen.