Characteristics and Outcome of Vascular Graft Infections: A Risk Factor and Survival Analysis

Vascular graft infection (VGI) is a serious complication after implantation of arterial vascular grafts. Optimal surgical and pathogen-specific antimicrobial treatment regimens for VGI are largely unknown. We evaluated patients with arterial VGI according to onset, location, microbiological and imaging characteristics, and surgical and antimicrobial treatment and performed an outcome evaluation.

Consecutive patients with VGI treated in 2 hospitals from 2010 through 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Uniform definition criteria and standardized outcome evaluation were applied. Logistic regression was used for multiple analysis; survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier analysis and a log-rank test.

Seventy-eight patients with VGI were included: 30 early-onset cases (<8 weeks after graft implantation) and 48 late-onset cases, involving 49 aortic and 29 peripheral grafts. The median time from initial implantation to diagnosis of VGI was significantly longer in aortic than peripheral VGIs (363 vs 56 days, P = .018). Late-onset VGI (odds ratio [OR], 7.3; P = .005) and the presence of surgical site infection/complication (OR, 8.21; P = .006) were independent risk factors for treatment failure. Surgical site infection/complication was associated with a higher risk for early-onset VGI (OR, 3.13; P = .040). Longer infection-free survival was observed in cases where the infected graft was surgically removed (P = .037).

This study underlines the importance of timely diagnosis of VGI and preventing surgical site infections/complications at graft implantation. It highlights the complexity of infection eradication, especially for late-onset infections, and the importance of adequate antimicrobial and surgical treatment.