Use of an antibiotic-bonded graft for in situ reconstruction after prosthetic graft infections

We have developed an infection resistant vascular prosthesis by bonding rifampin to Dacron grafts with the use of a collagen matrix release system. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of this antibiotic-bonded graft in resisting infection after an in situ reconstruction of a previously infected prosthetic bypass. Eighty-three adult mongrel dogs underwent implantation of a 3 cm untreated Dacron graft into the infrarenal aorta. This initial graft was deliberately infected, at the time of operation, with 10(2) organisms of Staphylococcus aureus by direct inoculation. One week later, the dogs were reexplored, the retroperitoneum debrided, and the animals randomized to undergo an end-to-end in situ graft replacement with either one of two types of prosthetic grafts: group I (collagen, n = 36) received control collagen-impregnated knitted Dacron grafts; group II (rifampin, n = 47) received experimental collagen-rifampin-bonded Dacron grafts. Each group of animals was then subdivided to receive one of four treatment protocols: (a) no antibiotic therapy, (b) cephalosporin peritoneal irrigation solution (cefazolin 500 mg/1000 ml) during operation and two doses of cephalosporin (cefazolin, 500 mg intramuscularly) postoperatively, (c) treatment as in protocol group b plus 1 week of cephalosporin (cefazolin, 500 mg intramuscularly, twice daily), and (d) treatment as in protocol group b plus 2 weeks of cephalosporin (cefazolin, 500 mg intramuscularly, twice daily). All grafts were sterilely removed between 3 and 4 weeks after implantation. There were no anastomotic disruptions and all grafts were patent at the time of removal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)