In peripheral vascular surgery, cephalosporins are nowadays regarded as the first choice for operative antibiotic prophylaxis. We have recently observed changes in colonizing patterns, pathogen prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility to antimicrobials. Multiresistant pathogens are becoming more frequent in vascular surgical wound infections, showing regional and local variations as to prophylactic antibiotic susceptibility. Data from the available literature so far have shown no strong evidence for a change in routine surgical antibiotic prophylaxis. We must consider regional and institutional prevalence of pathogen resistance and patterns of antibiotic susceptibility to establish specific guidelines for the use of alternative antibiotics.
Antibiotic prophylaxis; surgical wound infection; vascular surgical procedures; surgery
