Application and implications of a standardised reporting system for arteriovenous access graft infection

Introduction: The perception that arteriovenous graft infection (AVGi) is frequent and severe is not based on contemporary data from large units using modern AVG. Furthermore, older reports compounded misperceptions by using non-standardised reporting that prevents easy comparison against the alternative modalities. The aim of this article is to use a recently published reporting scheme to analyse the frequency, management and outcome of AVGi in a large series of sequential early-cannulation AVG with long-term follow-up. Methods: A single-center series analysis was performed of 277 early-cannulation AVG with minimum 1-year follow-up (total 120,082 days). Infections relating to the AVG were classified, root-cause analysed and the outcomes presented. Results: Sixteen percent of all AVG implanted (51 episodes) developed infection related to the AVG. Primary AVGi (related to the insertion procedure or within 28 days) occurred in 9 (3%); secondary AVGi (related to AVG in use) occurred 33 times (rate 0.27/1000 haemodialysis days), at a mean of 382 days, and tertiary AVGi (in AVG no longer in use) occurred nine times. Only 1/3 of all AVGi led to bacteraemia, and ½ did not lead to loss of functional access. Summary: AVG infection is not common, caused a systemic infection in only one-third, did not lead to metastatic infection, and importantly, was treatable without loss of access in one-half of all cases. Using an objective system that discriminates between aetiology and outcome allows a more complete objective understanding of relative infection risks and outcomes for AVG that can inform discussions with patients requiring vascular access for haemodialysis.