title: Incidence of positive inguinal lymph node cultures during peripheral revascularization.
abstract: Synthetic vascular graft infections occur more commonly at the inguinal incision, and there is contamination of the graft by transection of bacteria-laden lymphatics proximal to a distal extremity infection. In 45 consecutive peripheral revascularizations, significant positive inguinal lymph node cultures were not obtained in 30 normal extremities; two of 15 distally infected extremities demonstrated the same bacteria in the distal infection and the inguinal lymph node. Both patients subsequently developed graft infections. Inguinal lymph nodes proximal to a distal infection may harbor bacteria capable of causing a synthetic vascular graft infection. Consideration should be given to culture-directed rather than routine antibiotic prophylaxis under this circumstance.
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology