title: Infected prosthetic dialysis arteriovenous grafts: a single dialysis center study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prosthetic arteriovenous grafts (AVG) being used increasingly to create hemodialysis access are prone to infections that pose potentially life-threatening infectious and bleeding complications, as well as loss of dialysis access. In this study, we identified the bacteriologic agents of infected AVGs by site swab, blood culture, and prosthesis cultures, and to evaluate the role of microbiological findings in the management of the infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We focused on 51 patients with 53 AVGs operated on in our clinic from January 2006 to December 2009. An infected AVG was identified by clinical, ultrasound, and microbiological findings. Sensitivity to antibiotics was determined for all bacterial strains. Isolates were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of bacterial DNA. In a few cases, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) examination was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strains of Staphylococcus spp., especially S. aureus, were the most frequent cause of infected AVG. All S. aureus strains were sensitive to methicillin. With the exception of a single case, isolates obtained simultaneously from the skin site and the vascular prosthesis were identical genetically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that bacterial infectious agents detected in site swab, blood, or graft culture confirm a suspicion of AVG infection. A PET-CT examination can provide confirmation. The combination of microbiologic and radionuclide findings can improve the management of the AVG infection, but surgery remains essential.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgery Clinic, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bachleda
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalinova
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Utikal
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolar
authors.forename: Kristyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hricova
authors.forename: Tatana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stosova
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification