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Vancomycin administration within 16-60 min before the first surgical incision reduced the risk of SSI in cardiac surgery patients.

Resident involvement was associated with increased odds of major morbidity after amputation and also with increased operative time and risk for intraoperative transfusions.

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Gram-negative bacteria account for up to 35% of postoperative sternal wound infections (SWI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Despite this, risk factors for Gram-negative SWI have not been investigated. The objective of this study was to define risk factors associated with Gram-negative SWI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. 2590 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2002-2005 were prospectively monitored for development of SWI. Patient, operative, and post-operative risk factors were compared among patients that developed Gram-negative SWI and Gram-positive SWI to uninfected controls using univariate and multivariate analysis. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Surgical site infections developed in 152 (5.9%) patients. Isolates were recovered from the sternum for 128 (5.0%) patients, from the leg donor site for 19 (0.73%) patients, and from the sternum and donor site for 5 (0.19%) patients. Gram-positive pathogens were isolated from 83 (3.3%) patients, Gram-negative pathogens from 42 (1.6%) patients, and mixed pathogens from 27 (1.0%) patients. Hospital admission greater than 48 hours before surgery (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.11 - 4.58), ventilator-dependency preoperatively (OR: 5.32 95% CI: 2.22 - 12.75), and thoracentesis procedure postoperatively (OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.45 - 9.49) and diabetes (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.17 - 3.55) were identified as significant risk factors for SWI due to Gram-negative bacteria using multivariate logistic regression. Diabetes, increased age, and peripheral vascular disease were identified as significant risk factors for SWI due to Gram-positive bacteria (p < 0.05, each). The risk factors associated with Gram-negative SWI differed significantly from those associated with Gram-positive SWI. Risk factors associated with Gram-negative SWI were identified. Unique interventions may be necessary to prevent Gram-negative SWI in cardiac surgery patients.

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Maintenance of hemodialysis access for end-stage renal disease continues to be a major challenge for vascular surgeons, nephrologists, and primary care physicians. This case report highlights the complication and treatment of lower extremity central venous stenosis, allowing continued dialysis access for a patient with limited remaining fistula options. This stenosis resulted from the prolonged use of a lower extremity central venous catheter. This case highlights the importance of imaging the central veins in obstruction of lower extremity fistulas. Once detected, as in the upper extremity, this can be effectively treated using balloon dilation and stenting.